Winthrop/Lynn girls hockey bows out to Arlington Catholic in quarters

STONEHAM – The combined Winthrop/Lynn/Saugus girls hockey team rallied from a 2-0 deficit to tie the game, but the Bulldogs didn?t have it in the tank to mount a second comeback in a 4-2 loss to Arlington Catholic Tuesday in the Division 1 quarterfinals at Stoneham Arena.Winthrop found itself in a hole early on after the Cougars took a 1-0 lead 4:54 into the first period on a goal by Eileen Flynn. The hole got a little deeper early in the second period when Jackie Sindoris found the back of the net to put the Cougars in the driver?s seat, 2-0.Although the Bulldogs weren?t in a great spot, coach Anthony Martucci knew his team could get back in the hunt.?I?m thinking we?re never out of it. We?ve always got a puncher?s chance. I kind of consider us like Mike Tyson. We can throw a knockout blow if we have to,” Martucci said. “It?s tough. I?m thinking we?ve got to hold them off, try to regroup and we did. We got back in it.”Arlington Catholic is the third seed in Division 1 and Winthrop/Lynn was the sixth. It was an uphill climb, but the Bulldogs nearly made it. The combined team got after it in the second period and the effort paid off. Emma English scored on assists from Gabby Kenniston and Savannah Norcross (both from Lynn) on a power play 10 minutes into the second period and Ariana Dembro of Saugus knocked one home about two minutes later on a mad scramble in front of the net to tie the game. Jillian Olevitz had the assist on that one.As tough as Winthrop/Lynn played in the waning minutes of the second period, it wasn?t enough. Arlington Catholic came out strong in the third period and a little over two minutes in, Danielle Kelley popped in what would be the game-winner.The Bulldogs were still in this one at the end, but with 3:44 left Winthrop/Lynn took a double minor penalty (3 minutes). Arlington Catholic?s Jessica Piracini scored less than a minute into the power play to put the game out of reach at 4-2.?We struggle with that (penalties) every year,” Martucci said. “We take a lot of penalties. It?s the mentality we have. We?re crazy, kind of. We try to work hard and be physical and sometimes we?re over-physical.”Despite the loss, Martucci was proud of his team?s ability to pick up its game and get back in the hunt in the second period.?We got in on the forecheck. We worked hard and battled in the corners, mucked it up in front,” he said. “With a team like that which is very skilled, we?ve got to play to our strength, which is battling and doing all the grinding work. We ground it out and got a couple (of goals), which was nice. I thought we might have a shot in the third.”Gretchen Howard was in net for Winthrop/Lynn (14-4-2) and Kayla Yarrow for Arlington Catholic.Arlington Catholic will play the winner of Beverly/Danvers vs. Austin Prep Sunday at 7 p.m. at Stoneham.