Updates post publication:
North Reading defeats Ipswich 3-0 (Oct. 19)
North Reading defeats Lynnfield 3-0 on Senior Night (Oct. 23)
By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI
WEST NEWBURY — The North Reading High field hockey team traveled to West Newbury on Tuesday afternoon to take on host Pentucket. In the first meeting back in September, the schools tied 3-3.
This time, the Hornets won a tight, 2-1 game.
It was the seventh-win in a row for the Hornets who improved to 9-3-2 overall and 7-3-2 in the Cape Ann League.
Eva Hanegraaff got the scoring started with 11:06 left in the second quarter for the lone first-half goal.
Sabrina Mini made it 2-0 with 10:47 remaining in the third quarter and Hanegraaff assisted on that goal.
The Panthers scored with 3:07 left in the third as Cassidy Roche scored but the Hornets were able to hold on the rest of the day.
Hornet goal keeper, Caroline Burton, made 12 saves to go to 9-3-2 as she recorded her seventh shutout of the fall..
“Caroline had an incredible game,” said Hornets head coach Mikayla Allen. “Pentucket came ready to play and were much better than the first time we played them but our girls stepped up.”
On Oct. 13, the Hornets shut out Triton, 4-0, at home. That victory gave North Reading the season sweep over the Vikings as they won the first meeting, 4-1, back on Sept. 9.
Keely Hannon was the star of this game as she recorded her first-career hat trick scoring three unassisted goals.
Her first one came just 1:44 into the game. She then had her second tally with 9:02 remaining in the first. Her final goal came with 7:38 left in the first as the three goals only took her 7:22 to accomplish.
“She was unbelievable,” stated Allen, about the senior captain. “She came out ready to rock and was fierce.”
The other Hornets goal came with 12:22 left in the game as Mini scored, unassisted.
Burton made eight stops.
On Oct. 11, the Hornets defeated Hamilton-Wenham, 3-0, on the road.
Josie Lambert scored the first goal with 13:12 left in the first quarter assisted by Alyse Mutti.
Lambert scored the second goal as well with 8:40 left in the third. That goal came off a corner and was assisted by Ellie Moberg.
The final goal was also off a corner as Sophie Ed-Sheik scored assisted by Hannon with 6:28 remaining in the game.
“I was very pleased with the amount of corner opportunities we had,” said Allen.
Burton stopped four General shots on net.
North Reading’s next game is on Oct. 19 as they host Ipswich at 4:30 p.m. The Hornets then take on rival Lynnfield at home on Oct. 23 under the lights at 6 p.m.
That will be the team’s Senior Night as the four Hornet 12th-graders will be honored before the game starting at 5:45 p.m.
They wrap up the regular season on Oct. 25 as they visit Newburyport at 5:45 p.m. The Clippers won the first meeting, 5-0 back on Sept 25.
North Reading entered this week ranked 16th in the MIAA Division 3 power rankings. The top 32 teams, at the end of the regular season automatically qualify for the tournament.