SENIOR CAPTAIN Catherine Sweeney of Lynnfield has had a great season leading PLNR’s defense in 2022. The Tanners have one more regular season game on Wednesday at McVann-O’Keefe Rink before getting ready for the D1 Tournament. (Courtesy Photo)
By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI
PEABODY — On President’s Day, the Lynnfield-Peabody-North Reading High girls’ co-op hockey team hosted Bishop Fenwick in their annual Carlin Cup game at the McVann-O’Keefe Rink in Peabody.
The visiting Crusaders ended up winning, 2-0, as the Tanners were shut out for only the second time this season. It was also the Crusaders first-ever Carlin Cup victory which is named after longtime Peabody High boys’ coach Charlie Carlin..
“We played well but we have to get more shots on net,” said Tanners head coach Michelle Roach, as the team’s five-game winning streak was snapped.
With the game scoreless heading into the third period, the Crusaders drew first blood 11 seconds into the third as Lily Pregent scored. The other goal came on the empty net as Lauren Diranian scored with 28 seconds left.
The Tanners were outshot 28-18, as Audrey Buckley made 26 saves.
PLNR fell to 14-4-1 overall while Bishop Fenwick improved to 8-8-2.
After the game, Pregent and Buckley were given the Bo Tierney Award.
Last Saturday afternoon, the news was much better as Tanners beat host Medford-Malden, 6-1, at the LoConte Rink to compete the season sweep over the Mustangs. With that victory, they finished at 14-1-1 in the Northeast Hockey League coming in second place to Winthrop.
Penny Spack was the story of this game as the defenseman recorded her first-career hat trick. Ava Buckley, Catie Kampersal (Lynnfield) and Jenna DiNapoli had the three other Tanner goals. For Buckley, it was her first-career goal.
Hannah Gromko, of Lynnfield, had a team-high three assists while Ella Chase added two.
The Tanners led, 2-0, after the first period and, 5-0, after the second.
“We set the tone with early goals in the first and second periods,” pointed out Roach.
The first goal came only 34 seconds into the game while the first tally of the second was even quicker just nine seconds in.
Medford-Malden scored their lone goal with 5:03 left when the score was 6-0.
Tanner goalie, Alyse Mutti, got the win in net as she improved to 7-1.
On Feb. 16, the Tanners edged visiting Marblehead, 2-1, at home. It was their second win in a row against the Magicians as they beat them three days earlier at Salem State 4-2.
After a scoreless first period, Lynnfield’s Sarah Powers had the first goal assisted by Leah Buckley just 1:30 into the second period.
The score stayed that way until late in the third when Spack scored with 3:58 left in the game. Chloe Gromko (Hannah’s sister) and Powers both assisted.
Marblehead scored on the power play with 27 seconds left in the game as Ava Vatour lit the lamp assisted by Sophie Zerilli and Tayah Fleming but the Tanners were able to hold on for the win.
Both teams had 26 shots on net as Buckley made 25 saves.
“Marblehead came ready to play us and played well,” said Roach.
PLNR will wrap up the regular season on Feb. 23 as they welcome Haverhill-Pentucket-North Andover at 5:15 p.m.
This Saturday, the Tanners will find out who they will play in the first round of the Division 1 state tournament. The states will start sometime next week.