Published January 9, 2020
PEABODY — The Peabody/Lynnfield/North Reading (PLNR) girls’ ice hockey co-op team is still going strong with a record of 6-2.
Their season’s home opener against Medford/Malden on December 26, was a nail biter as the girls came back from a 2-1 deficit in the 3rd period, scoring three goals to win the game 4-2. Senior captain Sammie Mirasolo scored her first hat trick of the season with assists by junior Paige Thibedeau and freshman Jenna DiNapoli.
On December 28, the team hosted St Mary’s, a well-known top-ranked Division I team. The girls played hard and had some good scoring opportunities but none made it past the St. Mary’s goalie. Jeny Collins played an outstanding game keeping the score at a respectable 3-0.
NORTH READING HS is well-represented on the 2019-20 PLNR co-op girls’ hockey team. The girls who have helped the Tanners to a 6-2 record so far, are (front row, left to right) Paige Thibedeau, Sammie Mirasolo (Senior Captain), Jenna DiNapoli and Anya Pineo. Back row from left is Jeny Collins (Senior Captain), Lily Piscattelli, Ella McTeague, Ella Chase, Kaila Griffin and Audrey Buckley. (Courtesy Photo)
The girls went on the road to play Stoneham/Melrose on December 30. They played a very strong 3 periods, utilizing a mix of all three lines. It was a 7-3 victory with another hat trick for Mirasolo with four goals and one assist, a goal and assist by Jenna DiNapoli and assists by Lily Piscatelli and Paige Thibedeau. Ella McTeague, Ella Chase, Anya Pineo and Kaila Griffin also maintained a strong presence on the ice.
The Tanners’ winning streak continued with a convincing 7-1 win over Winthrop on Saturday, resulting in a three-way tie (Masco, Winthrop and PLNR) for first place in the Northeast girls high school hockey league. Jenna DiNapoli recorded her first career hat trick assisted by Mirasolo and Thibedeau.
Other goals were scored by Sammie Mirasolo and Lynnfield’s Jen Flynn, Catherine Sweeney and Reilley Ganter. Other contributors to this win were Lily Piscatelli and Ella McTeague. Exceptional goaltending by Collins has played a big factor in PLNR’s success.
The Tanners hosted Bishop Fenwick on Wednesday after press time. They host Norwell on Friday at 5:15 p.m.
