1 more win will punch ticket to postseason
By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI
MEDFORD—The Melrose High girls’ hockey team is poised to secure their first post season appearance in nearly a decade and are just one win away from qualifying for the Div. 2 playoff field, a feat that has evaded them since 2017.
Melrose (9-4) made that job easier on January 22, when they nipped guest Lexington, 1-0, at Flynn Rink. It represented their fifth straight victory. “Lexington was a lot better than their record shows,” said Melrose head coach Frank Sorrenti after the game. “They gave us a tough battle.”
Melrose’s Grace Daniels has the lone goal of the evening with 36 seconds in the opening period. That tally was unassisted as she scored in a scrum in front of the net. That goal held up as Hansen turned back 22 shots to post her third shutout of the year. Melrose had 25 shots on goal.
“Ruby played very well that game,” said Sorrenti. “Sometimes I feel that we rely a little too much on her.”
However, just a few days later Melrose saw that five-game winning streak snapped last Saturday afternoon as they lost, 5-1, to host Arlington at Ed Burns Arena.
Melrose has a 9-4 overall record and are 5-4 in the Middlesex League.
Against the Spy Ponders, things started off well as Melrose’s Nora Murray scored the game’s first goal with 4:30 left in the opening period. Ella Daniels and Julia McNeely both assisted.
However, the wheels came off in the second period as the Spy Ponders erupted for four goals in a 7:40 span.
“We knew that they were a tough team,” said coach Sorrenti. “They came out very strong in that period.”
Just 34 seconds in, Mia Culhane tied the game. Then, 1:26 later, Kelsie Partridge scored the eventual game-winning goal. With 11:43 left, Jill Saulnier made it 3-1. Partridge then made it 4-1 with 7:20 remaining. In the third, Caroline Banks had the final tally of the afternoon.
Arlington (8-4 and 6-3 in ML) out-shot Melrose on goal, 29-23, as Melrose goalie Ruby Hansen made 24 saves.
“I would put them right up there with Reading and Woburn,” said Sorrenti about Arlington.
The next two games for Melrose will be on the road. On Feb. 4, they take on Wakefield at Stoneham Arena. That game will start at 6:00 pm as Melrose looks for the season sweep. They then play a non-league game against Beverly-Danvers at Endicott College on Feb. 5. Face-off is at 7:30 at Bourque Arena.