After press time:
Melrose defeats Lexington 1-0 on Senior Night (Jan. 22)
By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI
MEDFORD—The Melrose High girls’ hockey team is riding a four-game winning streak that should launch them into their first playoff qualification in several years.
Last Saturday afternoon, Melrose doubled up guest Stoneham-Wilmington, 4-2, at Flynn Rink. With that victory, Melrose improved to 8-3 overall and 4-3 in the Middlesex League and are just two wins from officially qualifying for the Division 2 state tournament.
The progress Melrose has made this year has been impressive as they won just two games two years ago, and three games last winter. This year’s roster is the same as last year with the exception of the two seniors they lost to graduation. They are now on the brink of reaching the states for the first time since Melrose coach Frank Sorrenti’s first year as head coach back in the 2016- 2017 campaign. It’s been an exciting season for both the team and fans.
It was a competitive game against Stoneham on Saturday, though things looked grim early as the visitors led 2-0 after the first period. Spartan Vivien Savoie scored with 5:32 left in the period and teammate Dani Chillemi made it 2-0 with 1:46 remaining.
“We came out flat as a pancake,” admitted coach Sorrenti. “Then the second period was the polar opposite.”
In the second, Melrose outscored the Spartans 3-0. Nora Murray had the first goal for Melrose with 10:21 left assisted by Julia McNeely and Zoe Blackburn. Less than a minute later, Ella Daniels tied the game with Murray assisting. Eighth grader Grace Doyle scored the eventual game-winning goal with 7:20 left assisted by Ella Bonacorsi. That was Doyle’s first-ever varsity goal.
With just under two minutes left in the game, the Spartans (3-6-2) pulled their goalie for the extra skater but Riley Bolduc closed the door with an empty-net goal with 15 seconds left. Jessie Zulon assisted.
Melrose outshot the Spartans on goal, 33-22, as Melrose goalie, Ruby Hansen, made 20 saves to go to 8-3 in net. “We picked up our effort after that first period,” said Sorrenti. All six goals were even strength.
On Jan. 15, Melrose beat visiting Medford-Malden, 3-1, in a non-league game. Daniels scored the game’s first goal at the 10:46 mark of the first period. McNeely and Addie Savidge both were credited with the assists. Melrose’s Anna Mathews made it 2-0 with 7:27 left in the second period as that tally was unassisted. Just 2:03 into the third, Bolduc made it 3-0 with Mathews assisting. Medford-Malden got on the scoreboard with 5:07 left as Ally Madarese scored a power-play goal.
“That was a workman-like win,” said Sorrenti. “I felt confident even through we never had a big lead. They had very few shots on goal.”
Melrose out-shot the Mustangs on net, 32-10, as Hansen made nine saves.
Melrose steps up in weight class for their next two games as they play two of the top teams in the Middlesex League Liberty division. On Jan. 25, they visit Arlington at 12:25 pm at Burns Arena. Melrose then hosts Woburn on Jan. 29 with that game starting at 6:00 p.m. Woburn won the first meeting back on Jan. 6th by a final score of 4-2 in Woburn.