Post-publication updates:
North Reading defeats Boston Latin 14-3 (May 17)
North Reading falls to Pentucket 10-7 (May 15)
Published May 15, 2025
Three-game winning streak sends girls’ lax team to 8th win
By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI
NORTH READING — The North Reading High girls’ lacrosse team lost, 11-8, at home on Tuesday afternoon to Manchester-Essex. With that defeat, the Hornets record dipped to 8-7 overall and 4-7 in the Cape Ann League.
Manchester-Essex, meanwhile, improved to 9-4 and 6-4 in the CAL.
The visitors came out like a house on fire in the opening quarter as they led, 7-1. It was 8-3 at the half as North Reading outscored Manchester-Essex, 5-3, in the second half.
“They started off hot but we made some adjustments and started to chip away,” pointed out North reading Head coach Matt Costello. “I was proud of the way the girls fought back.”
Lindsey Rosenthal and Addison Hajj led the North Reading offense with two goals each. Makenzie Murphy, Mikaela O’Driscoll, Alaina Driscoll and Eva Cannalonga all scored once.
Hornet goalie, Cara Ward made eight saves.
The loss snapped the Hornets’ three-game winning streak.
Last Saturday, the Hornets made the long trip to Martha’s Vineyard and were able to return home with a 9-4 non-league win.
“It was a sloppy game,” said Costello, who is a Martha’s Vineyard graduate. “It is a long trip to get there and the grass field was wet.”
The Hornets led this one, 4-2, at the half as they never trailed.
Hajj led the team in scoring with four goals while Rosenthal recorded a hat trick. Driscoll and Willow Reyen had the two other goals.
O’Driscoll and Murphy each added one assist.
Ward made seven stops in net.
On May 7, the Hornets blanked Triton, 16-0, up in Byfield. It was the team’s first shutout of the year as the Hornets completed the season sweep over the Vikings.
“They are a rebuilding team this year,” said Costello, about Trtion as his squad led 11-0 at the half.
Murphy, Cannalonga and Hajj all scored twice. Rosenthal, Driscoll, O’Driscoll, Sophia El-Sheikh, Adelaide Steele, Julia Pemberton, Reyen and Kara Russell all scored once.
For Steele, Pemberton and Russell it was their first career goals.
El-Sheikh had two assists to lead the team.
Ward played the first three quarters in net and made two saves. Bella Mawn played in net in the fourth quarter and turned back four shots to preserve the shutout.
On May 5, the Hornets rolled over non-league Arlington Catholic, 16-4, at home. North Reading led this one, 10-1, at the half.
Hajj had five goals while Driscoll had a hat trick. O’Driscoll and Cannalonga both had two goals and one assist while Reyen had one goal and one helper.
Rosenthal, Murphy and Avery Keller all scored once. For Keller, it was her first-career goal.
Ward played until early in the fourth quarter and made five saves while Mawn mopped up in net and had one stop.
On Thursday, the Hornets host Pentucket at 4:15 p.m. North Reading will be tying to get a split of the season series against the Panthers.
North Reading then hosts Boston Latin Academy on Saturday at 1 p.m. in non-league action as it is the celebration of the team’s 20th anniversary game.
On May 21, they wrap up the regular season as they host Georgetown at 5 p.m. That is the Hornets Senior Day as the four 12th-graders will be honored before the game.
Entering this week, the Hornets were seeded 18th in the MIAA Division 4 power rankings.