Vikings Nip Danvers in Overtime Drama, 3-2
Senior captain Jack Hayes netted the game-winning goal with 40 seconds left in overtime to give the Winthrop High boys hockey team a dramatic 3-2 victory over Northeastern Conference rival Danvers last Saturday afternoon at Endicott College’s Ray Bourque Arena.
The contest was a see-saw affair, with the Vikings holding the advantage early, only to see the Falcons grab the momentum in the latter part of the contest before Winthrop snatched it back in the OT session.
Winthrop moved out to a 2-0 lead in the opening period on goals by Phil Boncore (assisted by Mike Holgersen and asst. captain Nate Evangelista) and junior captain Petey Silverman (assisted by Jack Hayes and Boncore), the latter coming on a power play.
However, the Falcons chipped away with a lamplighter in the middle period and then evened the count late in regulation with a goal on a power play that resulted from a five-minute major penalty.
Regulation time expired before the penalty did, which meant that Danvers had a 4-on-3 advantage for a good portion of the five-minute OT session.
However, the Vikings successfully killed the remainder (almost three minutes) of the major penalty, and then earned a man-advantage when a Falcon was whistled for a penalty, setting the stage for Jack Hayes’s heroics with 40 seconds to play on which asst. capt. Billy Hayes earned an assist.
Senior goalie Nicolas Babine was solid in the net for the Vikings to earn the victory.
Winthrop now stands at 2-0 on the season and was scheduled to take on Lynnfield last night (Wednesday). Coach Dale Dunbar and his crew will get a chance to play before their home crowd for the first time this season when they host non-league rival Grafton Monday afternoon at 1:00.
WHS Girls Basketball Tops Saugus, 54-20
The Winthrop High girls basketball team gave new head coach Anthony Hatzisavas an early Christmas present in the form of his first career head-coaching victory with a 54-20 triumph at Saugus last Friday evening.
The Lady Vikings took control of the contest from the outset, grabbing a 13-6 advantage at the first buzzer, and never looked back. Winthrop, despite key players Grace Fleurial and Reese Brodin sitting on the bench with foul trouble in the second period, lengthened their margin to 26-13 at the intermission
The Winthrop defense tightened even further to start the second half, holding Saugus to zero (0) points for the entire eight minutes of the third period, enabling the Lady Vikings to pull away for the 54-20 finale.
Maddie Stiglets led the way for Winthrop with a fine, two-way effort. Maddie hit for 17 points, pulled down four rebounds, dished two assists, and made seven steals.
Kaylee Farrell struck for double figures with 13 points and snared seven boards. Brodin and Sophia Lindinger both chipped in four points and made three steals apiece.
Fleuriel and Lilly Conway controlled the game in the paint, and Zoey Bogusz made a nice contribution with five points, four rebounds, and two assists.
“It was a great win over Saugus,” said Hatzisavas. “The girls were very excited and focused for their first conference game.
“The girls played hard and stayed together throughout the whole game,” Hatzisavas added. “It was one of those proud moments as a coach where they came out and brought the intensity, especially after a couple of tough non-conference matchups that opened our season.”
Hatzisavas and his crew terk to Newton North today (Thursday) for another battle with a non-conference foe. They will be off until January 3 when they will play at NEC foe Salem.
3-0 Winthrop Girls Hockey Hosts Peabody Wednesday
The Winthrop High girls hockey team improved to 3-0 on the season with a pair of victories over Northeast Hockey League (NHL) rivals Marblehead and Newburyport this past.
The Lady Vikings’ next encounter is set for this Wednesday evening (December 28) when coach Anthony Martucci and his crew host Peabody, Winthrop’s main contender for the NHL title, in a huge early-season battle. The puck will drop for the opening face-off at 6:10 at Larsen Rink.
This past Tuesday evening, the Lady Vikings trekked to Salem State College to take on another traditionally-tough NHL foe, Marblehead, and skated to a 5-1 victory.
“This was a dominant performance from us,” said Martucci. “We outshot them for the game, 57-9. Our team speed is off the charts this season. We send out four lines of players who can all fly.”
Forward Talia Martucci led the WHS scoring attack with a hat trick, one in each period, with assists going to Hannah Parker, Mia Norris, and Reese Ferrara.
“Talia had a good game,” said Martucci, her dad and head coach. “She was driving to the net hard, and found the loose pucks. Her third goal was an absolute seed.”
Izzy Cash reached the back of the Lady Magician net off a great pass by Gabby Buonapane and Adrianna Rizzotto lit the lamp on a bullet from the point, assisted by Emma Holmes, bringing Emma within three points from the 100-point mark for her career.
“Our captains once again led us to victory,” noted Martucci. “Julia, Abby, and Emma Holmes, as well as Mia Norris, have been fantastic leaders. They come to work every day and they are not afraid to get gritty.
“I also want to mention the stellar play of our freshman class, Avalina Coffey, Tegan Pereira, Reese Ferrara, Chloe Couture, Mia Currier, Stella Pelletier, Avery Shea, and Riley Towse,” Martucci continued. “This group has really been awesome for us. Pereira and Coffey are incredible young players who continue to get better and better. Ferrara and Couture are high end offensive players who also bring an intensity and a commitment to playing hard in all three zones. Currier, Pelletier, and Shea are three players who are 100% team first. They show up, work hard, and battle every single day.
“Towse has been working so hard in every practice and game. She is stepping into a huge role as the starting goalie for us and is handling it all in an elite way.”
Last Saturday, the Lady Vikings made the long bus ride to Newburyport a worthwhile endeavor, coming home with a 2-1 victory over the Lady Clippers.
Winthrop took control in the opening period, grabbing a 2-0 lead in the opening period on goals by Mia Norris and Abby Holmes.
“Mia Norris has really been elite for us so far this season,” said WHS head coach Anthony Martucci. “She is absolutely flying, and playing so hard in all three zones. It was great to see her getting rewarded for all of her hard work.
“Abby Holmes is the heart and soul of our defense,” Martucci continued. “She is the only senior leading a young core of defense. Abby has been insane this season. She is giving us quality defensive play, but also supplying some offensive help as well.”
Newburyport lit the lamp on a power play in the middle period to make it a 2-1 contest, but the Winthrop defense and freshman goaltender Riley Towse held firm the rest of the way.
“It was a great game,” said WHS head coach Anthony Martucci. “I would say we controlled the game for the most part, but Newburyport never gave up and their goalie was phenomenal. We carried play from the outset, and pretty much peppered their goalie. She had to make 40 saves.
“Right now we are getting incredible team defense,” Martucci continued. “Our defense was fantastic in this one, limiting chances and keeping Newburyport off-balance offensively all game long. Tegan Pereira, Avalina Coffey, Amelia Spencer, Abby Holmes, Mia Currier, Izi Hain, and Adrianna Rizzotto (who is out with an injury) have been elite from day one.
Up front I cannot say enough about the relentless forechecking and backchecking of all of our forwards,” added Martucci. “We are flat out flying, and making some great passes as well. Our four lines have all been great. The line of Julia and Emma Holmes with Sami Dimento is putting the other teams back on their heels. The Mia Norris, Hanna Parker, Talia Martucci line is playing excellently together. Freshman Reese Ferrara is centering Izzy Cash and Gabby Buonapane, forming our ‘grind line.’ Chloe Couture is flanked by Tori Bates and a mix of Stella Pelletier and Avery Shea, all playing the role of energy providers.
“In net, freshman Riley Towse has really answered the bell for us,” said the coach. “She is making some huge, timely saves, and she has been dialed in. I am really proud of Riley. She has huge shoes to fill, and she knew that coming in. She has responded very well to that challenge. Our back-up goalie, Hanna Barrett, has improved immensely in a very short time, and she brings a lot of enthusiasm to the locker room and the bench every game.”
Martucci and his crew are off through the holiday weekend prior to their big encounter with Peabody next Wednesday.
Girls Indoor Track Team Tops Salem
The Winthrop High boys and girls indoor track and field teams opened their season by engaging in a tri-meet against Northeastern Conference opponents Salem and Peabody at the New Balance track facility in Brighton at which all of the NEC schools took part for their season-openers.
The highlight of the tri-meet for the Winthrop girls was their 33-18 triumph over Salem. Among the top performers for the Lady Vikings were freshman Arianna Cappuccio, who sprinted to victory vs. Salem in the 55 meter dash with a clocking 8.15. Arianna’s effort also earned her a second-place finish vs. Peabody.
Sprint teammate Sophia Munson took second vs. Salem and third vs. Peabody in the dash with a time of 8.22.
In the 300 dash, junior Daniela Gomez (53.20) and senior Olivia Skpmro (53.48) went 2-3 vs. Salem.
In the 600, junior Kailey Sullivan put up five points for the Lady Vikings vs. Salem with a clocking of 2:27.41, and in the 1000, junior Maria Victoria Cimaglia took first vs. Salem and third vs. Peabody with a run of 4:07.56.
Libby Carney took second vs. Salem and third vs. Peabody in the mile with a time of 6:31.17.
Gomez (25′-4″) and junior Lara Ferrari (24′-10.75″) went 1-2 vs. Salem in the shot-put.
On the boys’ side, the top performer for Winthrop was senior Benjamin Prew in the mile with a second-place vs. Peabody and a first-place vs. Salem in a personal record (PR) time of 5:34.96.
Other Vikings who scored points for the Winthrop cause were:
senior Daniel Guauque in the 55 dash with a second place vs. Salem in a time of 7.42; Evan Rockefeller with a third in the 55 dash vs. Salem in 7.54; Owen Munson with a third place vs. Salem in the 300 dash in 50.64; freshman Sean Dolan in the 600 with a third vs. Peabody and a second vs. Salem in a clocking of 1:49.48; and freshman Brady Tallent, who posted five points to the Winthrop scoresheet in the Salem contest with a first place in the 55 meter hurdles in a time of 12.18.
“Congrats to senior Ben Prew for his all time best in the one mile and to Arianna Cappuccio for winning the 55,” noted WHS head coach Nik Beshere.
Both teams are scheduled to face Gloucester today (Thursday) and Marblehead next Thursday.