Talia Martucci gets it done in Winthrop’s in 3-2 OT win over Winchester

By Cary Shuman

The flu big hit the Winthrop High School girls hockey team last week, but Coach Butch Martucci’s determined crew battled through it and eked out a 3-2 victory over Winchester Saturday at the O’Brien Rink in Woburn.

“It was a real battle because our whole team is fighting the flu,” said Martucci, whose team improved its record to 8-2-1.

Talia Martucci, who’s having a banner season as she marches up the all-time  scoring charts, netted the game-winning goal just more than a minute into the five-minute overtime. Talia had missed four practices during the week, but when the puck dropped on Saturday, Talia was game-ready, contributing two goals and an assist.

“Talia was able to play on Saturday and gave us whatever she had, and luckily it was enough to get us through,” said her father, Butch Martucci.

Winthrop took a 2-0 lead into the third period on goals by Tegan Pereira and Talia Martucci.

But Winchester, a perennial powerhouse, scored goals late in the third period, the latter tally coming with 3.3 seconds left in regulation after pulling their goaltender.

Martucci ensured a triumphant bus ride home with the breakaway game-winner. Junior goaltender Riley Towse started the sequence with a save. Senior captain Amelia Spencer cleared the puck along the boards, and Martucci outskated two defenders to get to the net and deposit the puck.

“Winchester’s a very good team,” said Butch Martucci. “Their record (5-6-2) may not indicate that, but it’s only because they play such a tough schedule. It was a good battle all the way. Our girls played well.”

Martucci credited Towse for another sterling effort in net. Towse made 16 saves, including the key one in overtime that ultimately launched Talia Martucci onto to breakaway land.

Winthrop (8-2-1) was set to take the ice at Larsen Rink Wednesday for a “championship banner implications” game versus main rival Peabody.

The Division 1 field of prospective MIAA tournament teams looks well-balanced, with only one school (No. 1-ranked Hingham) standing with a completely unblemished record (13-0-0).

Couture piling

up the assists

Junior first-line center Chloe Couture had an assist in the Winchester game and leads the team with 13 for the season. “She’s a great faceoff person,” said Coach Martucci. “In fact, she won a faceoff and got the puck to Talia for a goal. Chloe is flying all over the ice. She’s been huge for us all season.”

Second-line center Reese Ferrara has five assists while seeking her first goal of the season. “Reese has given the team so much. I just wish she had a couple of goals and a couple of more assists to show for all the hard work she’s doing,” said Martucci.

Moving Up

Talia Martucci has 13 goals and eight assists for 21 points. With 121 career points, the senior sensation is in line to surpass Julia Holmes (126) on Winthrop’s all-time list of scorers.

Martucci has emerged as one of the state’s premier players and a definitive All-Scholastic candidate this season. 

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