Pumphret’s hat trick lifts WHS boys to 3-2 win over Masco
The Winthrop High boys hockey team earned a hard-fought 3-2 victory over Northeastern Conference North Division opponent Masconomet Monday evening at Larsen Rink.
Masco got the scoring going early in the first period to take a 1-0 lead, but with less than five minutes to play in the period, Viking captain Joe Pumphret scored off a rebound shot from Nick Romano to bring the game back to level.
The teams came out in the second period with a fast and physical battle. The Vikings seized the momentum when Pumphret lit the lamp again, assisted by Romano and captain Paul Ferrara, to give Winthrop a 2-1 advantage entering the final period.
However, Masco tied the game with about five minutes to go, setting the stage for some late-game Viking heroics when Ferrrara hit a streaking Pumphret with a beautiful pass through the middle to notch the game-winning goal, giving Captain Joe P. the hat trick.
The victory maintained the Vikings’ hold on first-place in the NEC North, setting up a showdown last night (Wednesday) for the 2026 NEC North crown with Gloucester, which is tied for second-place with Danvers in the standings, one point behind Winthrop.
Last night’s battle with the Fishermen, who edged the Vikings 5-4 in overtime in their first meeting this season, figured to be a heavyweight match-up between two of the top teams on the North Shore. The Vikings are ranked eighth in Division 4 in the MIAA’s power ratings (and #1 in D-4 by Hockey Night in Boston), while Gloucester is ranked 16th in Division 2.
Coach Dale Dunbar and his crew will conclude their regular season with three home games in the coming week. This Saturday afternoon at 3:00, the Vikings will host NEC South foe Beverly in a contest that also will have NEC title implications.
The game will be highlighted by Senior Night festivities at which assistant captains Nick Romano, Tomas Babine, and Bert Kline and senior forwards Steve Calla and Louk Belgehiti will be recognized for their contributions to the WHS boys hockey program.
The Vikings then will host non-league opponents Northeast Regional on Monday at 5:40 and Essex Tech next Wednesday at 6:10.
The Vikings then will await word of their final seeding and likely opening-round opponent as they open the defense of their MIAA D-4 state title.
WHS girls’ hockey defeats Marblehead, 5-1
The Winthrop High girls hockey team turned in a total team effort to record a 5-1 victory over Northeastern Hockey League rival Marblehead Sunday morning at Salem State.
After a scoreless first period, the Lady Vikings lit the lamp for two goals in the middle stanza on a power play goal by Chloe Couture, assisted by Tegan Pereira and Angela Coscia, and Amelia Serino, assisted by Avalina Coffey.
Reese Ferrara added to the Winthrop cushion with two goals in the third period, the first one unassisted and the second assisted by Nora Zuffini.
Coscia netted an empty-netter to account for the fifth Winthrop goal.
Goalie Riley Towse added to her program record with her 59th career win.
“The team played very well,” said WHS coach Anthony Martucci. “The passing was great and they worked very hard in all three zones.
“It was a great, clean win,” Martucci added. “The girls are playing well, and moving the puck great. The passing was really nice to see. We are going to be a very tough team to beat if we can continue to move the puck like that.”
The victory set up a showdown for the 2026 NHL championship last night (Wednesday) with Beverly, which leads Winthrop by a point in the NHL standings.
The Lady Vikings took on non-league opponent Boston Latin this past Monday and came up on the short end of a 3-1 decision.
They will entertain Latin next Thursday (February 19) with a 6:10 opening face-off in their regular-season finale. The Lady Vikings, who are ranked 24th in the MIAA Division 1 power ratings, then will await the announcement of their final seeding and first-round opponent in the D-1 state tourney.
Winthrop boys hoop defeats Gloucester; Vikings are #22 in D-4
The Winthrop High boys basketball team made the long bus ride to Gloucester a worthwhile endeavor, returning home with a 64-57 triumph over the Fisherman in a key Northeastern Conference Lynch (South) Division matchup.
The Vikings were led by senior captain Noah Bayersdorfer, who finished with 21 points, eight rebounds, and five assists. Freshman big man Lucas Gabriel added an impressive double-double with 15 points, 12 boards, and two blocks. Junior guard Nico Ruggieri chipped in 13 points and made a strong impact on the defensive end with four steals.
Last Friday the Vikings honored their members of the Senior Class of 2026 prior to the start of their game with Salem.
Five of the seniors, captain Noah Bayersdorder, captain Nick Correa, Liam Natareno, Matt Wall, and Chris Cinelli, took to the floor for the opening tip-off against the high-flying Witches, who are in first place in the Dunn (North) Division of the Northeastern Conference and are ranked 2nd in the MIAA’s Division 3 power ratings.
Bayersdorfer got Winthrop off to a nice start, draining a long three-pointer for a quick 3-0 advantage. However, that would prove to be the apogee for the Vikings for the night.
The Witches responded with a trey of their own and soon showed why they are ranked among the top teams in the state. A suffocating full-court press led to a succession of Winthrop turnovers, resulting in a 13-point run over the next few minutes before a pair of free throws by Gabriel got the Vikings back on the scoreboard.
The teams closed out the period with Salem hitting for two buckets and Bayersdorfer sinking two free throws to leave matters at 17-7 at the end of the first quarter.
The Vikings remained within striking range, matching Salem bucket-for-bucket, into the middle of the second period, with the score standing at 28-18 with 3:14 left in the half.
But another series of turnovers by the Vikings over the next two minutes resulted in a 13-point Salem run that ballooned the deficit from a manageable 10 points to a 41-18 bulge at the half from which Winthrop never recovered en route to a 70-53 loss.
The Vikings, who stand at 5-12 on the season, are holding down the #23 ranking in the MIAA’s Division 4 power rankings, a spot that would qualify Winthrop for the post-season state tournament.
The boys will wrap up their regular season with three games on the road in the next week at Beverly yesterday (Wednesday), at Arlington Catholic tomorrow (Friday), and at Ipswich next Tuesday.
D’Amico, Harty earn medals at NEC championships
Junior Thomas D’Amico and freshman Owen Harty were the top performers for the Winthrop High boys indoor track and field team at the recent Northeastern Conference Championship Meet held at the Reggie Lewis Center in Boston.
Thomas earned a sixth-place medal with a time of 1:32.62 in the 600 dash. Owen likewise brought home a sixth-place medal with his performance of 2:49.69 in the 1000.
Senior teammate Liam Kenney also turned in a notable effort at the meet, coming across the line in seventh place in the 600 with a clocking of 1:32.80 among the field of 19 competitors.
WHS girls hoop ranked #33 in D-4
The Winthrop High girls basketball team is scheduled to conclude its 2026 regular season with a contest at non-league opponent Manchester-Essex on the holiday on Monday.
The Lady Vikings, who took on Beverly last night (Wednesday), bounced back from a 43-27 loss to Masconomet last Tuesday to post a 63-24 victory at Salem this past Friday.
However, the Lady Vikings have a shot at extending their 2026 campaign into the post-season. Coach Anthony Hatzisavas’s crew, who stand at 7-11 on the season, were ranked 33rd in Division 4 in the MIAA’s power ratings as of this past Tuesday, leaving them on the cusp of qualifying for the post-season state tourney. The top 32 teams in each division qualify for the tourney (regardless of record), as well as schools below the top 32 with .500 or better records.