By Cary Shuman
The Winthrop High girls hockey team returned quickly to the winning track with a 5-1 victory over Medford Saturday at the Mustangs’ home rink.
Coming off a tough 1-0 loss to Peabody, the Vikings came out fired-up against Medford while improving their record to 5-1-1.
Spencer leads the way
Senior captain Amelia Spencer scored two goals to power the Vikings to their second win over Medford this season.
“She had two beautiful goals,” said head coach Butch Martucci. “Amelia has been playing extremely well since Day 1, but she was fantastic versus Medford and these last four games, she’s really lifted up her game. Our team bounced back really well after a tough loss to Peabody.”
Senior captain Talia Martucci had one goal and two assists. Junior Chloe Couture and sophomore Angie Coscia also netted goals.
Game lived up to
expectations
The Winthrop-Peabody battle of unbeatens lived up to its advance billing as the two title contenders played 45 minutes of tense, two-way hockey.
Reigning league MVP Ava Buckley scored the game’s only goal for Peabody early in the second period.
“The goal developed out of a play in the neutral zone where our defense had to pitch up to try to make a play, and one of their players bumped the puck past us, and their top gun (Buckley) had a clear shot on Riley (Towse) who was in pretty good position, but Buckley made a great shot.”
Peabody coach Michelle Roach utilized multiple defenders to contain Talia Martucci in a successful strategy that kept Winthrop’s leading scorer off the board.
Spencer had a couple of good scoring opportunities, with one of her blasts hitting the post.
Peabody goaltender Alyse Mutti made 25 saves. Winthrop’s Riley Towse had 15 saves.
Butch Martucci is looking forward to the rematch against Peabody.
“That game (January 22) at Larsen is going to be really good,” said Martucci.
Interestingly, Peabody lost its very next game to Longmeadow (2-0) in Springfield. Longmeadow tied Winthrop (2-2) in a Jan. 4 matchup.
No. 13-ranked Winthrop (5-1-1) plays Gloucester (5-4) Saturday (1 p.m.) at Larsen Rink and has a big test against No. 5-ranked Methuen/Tewksbury (7-0-1) Monday at 5:30 p.m. at Larsen Rink. Monday is Martin Luther King Jr. Day which honors the life of the great civil rights leader and orator.