WHS Sports Roundup

WHS Girls Hockey Wins Two Contests

The Winthrop High girls hockey team improved to 3-0 with a pair of key victories over Northeast Hockey League rivals Medford and Marblehead this past week.

In a 2-1 triumph over the Medford Mustangs last Wednesday at Larsen Rink, the sister duo of Abby and Julia Holmes provided the offense.

Abby lit the lamp in the opening period, assisted by Julia, and then Julia scored the game-winner in the third period, assisted by Mia Martucci.

“It was a good game, although we played sub-par,” said WHS head coach Anthony Martucci. “Medford hustled and worked and gave us trouble.”

The Lady Vikings’ initial goal by Abby Holmes, which she scored early in the game, stood up until there were six minutes left in the game when Medford brought the contest back to level.

However, Julia Holmes reached the back of the Lady Mustang net almost immediately thereafter to reinstate the Winthrop advantage that the Lady Vikings maintained to the final horn.

WHS goalie Summer Tallent made 22 saves to record her second win of the season.

This past Saturday Martucci and his crew trekked to the Salem State University Rink to take on perennial NHL archrival Marblehead and came home with a 3-1 victory.

Olivia Driscoll scored two of the Winthrop goals, the first unassisted and the second with an assist from Mia Martucci. Julia Holmes, assisted by Abby H., also reached the back of the Marblehead net.

Tallent once again was solid in the net, recording 21 saves for her third win of the season.

Although the Lady Vikings dominated play in the first period, the score remained at 0-0 at the horn. However, Winthrop picked up the pace in the middle stanza, scoring three unanswered goals, and then allowed just a single Marblehead tally late in the third period to preserve the win.

“Olivia Driscoll was great in the Marblehead game,” said Martucci. “She is our captain and our leader, and it was awesome to see her get on the scoresheet.

“Julia Holmes has been huge offensively, grabbing points in all three of our games thus far,” Martucci added. “Emma Holmes also has played extremely well through the first three games, passing extremely well and making a ton of great plays for us.

“Defensively, we’ve received great goaltending from Summer Tallent, who has played excellently in all three games,” continued then coach. “Elle English and Abby Holmes have emerged as defensive leaders so far. They are both playing strong and smart defensively.”

Martucci and his crew will face Masconmet, one of the top teams each year in the NHL, on Saturday evening at the Haverhill Valley Forum at 6:30.

They then will host St. Mary’s of Lynn, the Lady Vikings’ perennial top non-league rival, next Wednesday on New Year’s Day at Larsen at 6:00.

WHS Boys Hockey Evens Record at 1-1-2

The Winthrop High boys hockey team broke into the winning column in a big way, racking up an 11-1 victory at Lynn this past Wednesday evening.

The goals came early and often for coach Dale Dunbar’s squad, who reached the back of the Lynn net five times in the opening period and then added three markers in each of the second and third stanzas.

Junior assistant captain Joey Holgersen got the Winthrop offense rolling with the first goal of the game, assisted by sophomore linemate J.D. Parker.

Parker then notched a goal, assisted by Holgersen and their third linemate, Charlie Lane.

Senior Jack Sicurella made it 3-0 with the first of his three goals (plus an assist) on the night. Freshman Conlin Banfield, assisted by Rob Tarantino, scored his first varsity goal, and senior assistant captain Joe Deeb, from senior captain Mike Brooks, made it 5-0 before the end of the period.

Jack Sicurella, assisted by his sophomore brother, James, upped the count to 6-0 early in the middle period. Deeb, unassisted, and Jack S. again, this time assisted by junior Connor Hurley, concluded the scoring for an 8-0 Winthrop lead at the third horn.

The Vikings added three more tallies in the final 15 minutes: Chris Ferrara (from Mike Brooks and Joe Hayes), Parker (from Holgersen); and Bobby Diaz (from Jack Sicurella). Lynn scored a late goal for the 11-1 finale.

WHS goaltenders Ryan Hovermale and Anthony Indresano split the net-keeping duties to share the victory.

The Vikings then trekked this past Saturday to the Foxboro Sports Center to take on non-league rival Mansfield, which has become an annual opponent for Winthrop.

Mansfield took a 1-0 lead with a goal with just 0:39 left in the opening period, but Winthrop responded in the second period with a goal by Parker, assisted by Lane,  to bring matters back to level. The Vikings then pulled ahead in the third period on a goal by senior defenseman Ari Hain, assisted by Parker.

However, Mansfield notched the equalizer with four minutes to go for the eventual 2-2 deadlock.

Hovermale was the big story for the Vikings. The junior goalie made 50 saves against a Mansfield squad that perennially is among the top Division 1 schools.

The Vikings had opened their season the previous week with a 1-1 tie against non-league foe Dedham and a 4-1 loss to Northeastern Conference North Division foe Beverly.

In the Dedham contest, Hovermale made 38 saves in an outstanding performance against a Dedham squad that is among the top-ranked in the state. Parker scored the Winthrop goal.

In the loss at Beverly at Endicott College’s Ray Bourque Arena, the Vikings spotted the Panthers a 4-0 lead in the first eight minutes, a deficit from which the Vikings were unable to recover in an eventual 4-1 defeat.