PEABODY — For the fourth straight year, the Peabody/Lynnfield girls hockey team is your Carlin Cup champion.
Monday at McVann-O’Keefe Memorial Rink, the Tanners defeated host Bishop Fenwick 4-2 in the fifth playing of the girls cup.
It was far from easy, however, as the Crusaders put up a good fight. Fenwick pulled to within one at 3-2 on a goal from freshman Abbey Millman after pulling senior goalie Kailyn Wesley with 2:03 to play.
But the Tanners’ Sammie Mirasolo answered right back just 11 seconds later to give Peabody a little breathing room and seal the victory.
“I thought we started a little slow,” said Peabody coach Michelle Roach. “By the third period we figured it out and knew we had to battle if we wanted to put this away. I am very proud of my club for continuing to respond after they got that (last) goal. They played us hard, so we had to play harder.”
Sophomore forward Ella McTeague scored the first two goals for Peabody and was named Peabody’s Most Valuable Player.
“In big games like this, we come together,” said McTeague. “Sammie’s goal was huge and that put the game away. As only a sophomore, however, I feel that anyone could have been the MVP (Monday).”
Sophomore defenseman Catherine Salvo was named Fenwick’s MVP.
“She (Salvo) really stepped up her game over the last several weeks. She can skate the puck out of our zone if need be, she is aggressive and is a very competitive young girl,” said Fenwick coach John Kasle. “As you can see today, she adds a lot to our defense.”
Peabody goalie Jeny Collins made 21 saves, while Wesley made 22 saves.
Neither team gained a real edge in the first period, although Peabody held a 10-5 edge in shots on goal. Unfortunately for Fenwick, two of those shots found the back of the net.
McTeague broke the ice for the Tanners about 10 minutes into the game. She poked home a loose rebound in the crease to put the Tanners on top 1-0. Jennifer Flynn and Catherine Sweeney were credited with assists.
McTeague needed less than two minutes to double the lead to 2-0 with 1:50 left in the period. She collected a rebound off of a Flynn shot and roofed if inside the far post.
Fenwick cut the deficit to 2-1 about three minutes into the second period on a goal from Gabby Davern. Lauren Diranian set up the goal, winning a faceoff and dishing back to Davern, who flicked a wrist shot into the far corner over Collins.
Peabody got off to a fast start in the third period. Two and a half minutes in, Mirasolo jammed home a rebound off a shot from Reilly Ganter, who picked up an assist along with Chloe Shapleigh, to make it a 3-1 game.
Fenwick called a timeout with 2:03 to go and pulled Wesley to give Fenwick a man-up advantage. The Crusaders needed just 13 seconds to find the back of the net, with Millman doing the honors (from Davern).
Borrowing from the anything-you-can-do-I-can-do-better department, Mirasolo followed with an insurance goal 11 seconds later to give Peabody a two-goal cushion at 4-2 with 1:39 to play. The goal was the prettiest of the day as Mirasolo dangled the puck like it was on a string, back-and-forth, before finishing as she was hauled down.
“We work on that play a lot and have a couple of set plays and it all worked out very well so we were right back there in the game,” said Kasle. “To their credit, Peabody doesn’t give up. They turn around and go right in and steal a pass and the next thing you know the puck is in the net.”
“Sammie is such a very strong player and just so fast, so you just have to keep moving your feet,” said Salvo. “We played really good, they are always our rival.”
Both teams, which tied program records for most regular-season wins, now await the release of the tournament brackets on Friday.
“We’re happy with where we are going into the tournament,” said Kasle. “We are in a good spot here and I congratulated them on a good season. We are a young program so that’s a credit to the kids.”
“This was a big two points for us as we were going for standing in the division and we are hoping to have a home game,” said Roach. “I think we may finish about the same as last year, and if we do, we should be playing at home.”
Peabody finishes the season 14-5-1, while Fenwick finishes 12-5-3.
