By Cary Shuman
The final league game of the season on Senior Day at Larsen Rink showcased all the variables that have made Coach Butch Martucci’s Winthrop Vikings a champion for the 2024-25 season.
The incredibly clutch and superb goaltending by junior Riley Towse. The season-long stellar and unsung work by defensive tandems Amelia Spencer and Fran Indrisano and Tegan Pereira and Avalina Coffey.
The amazingly accurate slapshot by Tegan Pereira, this time for the game-winning goal. The MVP-caliber excellence once again of the North Shore leading’s scorer, Talia Martucci, who was central to the sequence that led up to Pereira’s power play goal and had her own goal and assists. The development of junior center Reese Ferrara into a difference-maker and rising star each game was also instrumental on the road to the title. The leadership of senior captains Martucci and Spencer, the valuable gift from Lynn who is enjoying her sixth and final season with the Winthrop varsity.
Add in the intensity displayed by all in a must-win situation versus Newburyport, and AD Mark DeGregorio is now having to order another championship banner for display at Larsen Rink following back-to-back undefeated seasons in 2022 and 2023.
Winthrop’s 4-2 win over Newburyport Saturday, preceded by a 6-1 win over Beverly, clinched a share of the title with Peabody.
“That’s one of the goals that we set at the beginning of the year and the girls accomplished that,” said Butch Martucci.
The trip of Talia
and goal by Tegan
The key sequence of the game occurred when Talia Martucci was winding up for another Petey Silverman-like rush to the net and she was tripped up by a Newburyport player in the offensive zone.
Moments later, on the power play, Pereira’s blast just inside the blue line screeched into the net and Winthrop had its unrelinquishable lead, thanks to Towse and Company.
“That was a beautiful goal by Tegan Pereira – she’s known for that, that’s her staple,” said Coach Martucci. “She’s got a heavy, heavy shot, and when she unloads that thing, it’s dangerous. She’s so effective on our power play.”
Talia Martucci and Chloe Couture assisted on the winning goal.
Sophomore forward Amelia Serino (on a tip-in of an Amelia Spencer shot) and senior forward Gabby Buonopane (assisted by Reese Ferrara) had goals in the first period. Following Pereira’s missile, Martucci scored the lock-up-the victory goal, assisted by Pereira.
Newburyport had an upset in mind, netting a power-play goal and a tough-angle shot in the first period.
But Towse closed the door on the Clippers’ offense for the final two periods.
“Riley made one sequence of four straight saves in the game on a power play that was really big,” said Martucci.
There will be at least one championship celebration at the awards banquet.
“The girls will get a banner and all will receive hooded, blue and gold sweatshirts with the league championship logo on them,” said Martucci.
Winthrop wore its green jerseys for its game against Newburyport.
“We stayed with the green jerseys all year in honor of Todd Sullivan,” said Coach Martucci. “He’s been walking with us this whole year, so we’re not leaving him.”
Winthrop will begin play in the MIAA Tournament next week.