By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI
LYNN — It was a playoff tune-up for the North Reading-Lynnfield-Peabody High co-op girls’ hockey team on Monday night as they took on power St. Mary’s of Lynn in a non-league contest at Connery Rink.
The visiting Tanners ended up losing, 3-1, to the Catholic Central League-leading Spartans.
With that defeat, PLNR fell to 12-2 overall while the Spartans improved to 15-1-1.
After a scoreless first period, the Spartans scored on the power play as Vanessa Hall lit the lamp 3:42 into the second period. Alyssa Norden and Keira Towmey assisted.
Dede McCarron then made it 2-0 with 5:04 left with Hall assisting.
St. Mary’s made it 3-0 on the power play with 5:35 left in the game as Bella Freitas scored an unassisted goal.
North Reading’s Alexa Pepper had the Tanner tally on the power play with 2:34 left to avoid the shutout.
The Spartans out-shot the Tanners 38-18, as PLNR goalie Alyse Mutti made 35 stops. Mutti, of North Reading, is 12-2 in net this winter.
The two teams could meet up again in the Division 1 state tournament as the Spartans are the top-seed in the MIAA power rankings while the Tanners are slotted 5th.
On Feb. 3, the Tanners defeated guest Shawsheen-Bedford, 6-3, at the McVann-O’Keefe Rink in Peabody on Senior Night. The four seniors were honored including North Reading’s Addi Mikulski.
PLNR completed the season sweep with the win as they improved to 12-0 in the Northeastern Hockey League.
Catie Kampersal led the offense with two goals. Ava Buckley had one goal and two assists.
On Feb. 10, the Tanners go to the Graf Rink to take on Newburyport at 2 p.m. Two days later, they take on rival Winthrop at the Larsen Rink. Face-off is at 4:30 p.m.
On Feb. 14, they welcome Marblehead with that game starting at 5:15 p.m.
PLNR is looking for the season sweep against all three schools.