WINTHROP — The Winthrop girls hockey team got off to a quick start Wednesday, but some missed opportunities down the stretch and a few late mistakes led to the Vikings settling for a 2-2 tie against Wakefield to close the regular season at Larsen Rink.
Two early goals had Winthrop playing with a lead most of the night, but the Vikings failed to put things away when they had the chance.
“I thought we had a tough second period,” Winthrop coach Butch Martucci said. “We got a 5-on-3 chance and you have to score a goal in those situations. When we didn’t, it took the wind out of our sails a little bit. I still thought we would come out in the third period but right now our youth is showing. We can’t seem to get a consistent three games of hockey and it’s killing us.”
Julia Holmes and Mia Martucci led the way for Winthrop with a goal each, both coming in the first five minutes of play, while Emma Holmes had one assist. Goalie Summer Tallent totaled 21 saves.
The Vikings brought the pressure early on. Emma Holmes dished a tape-to-tape cross-ice pass to Martucci out front who scored to put Winthrop ahead 1-0 in the opening minutes.
A few minutes later a bouncing puck landed right in front of Julia Holmes, who took full advantage with a top-shelf goal that stretched the Vikings lead to 2-0.
The second period was full of penalties on both sides. Wakefield went on the man-advantage twice in just over three minutes but Tallent and the Winthrop penalty kill were able to hold the Warriors at bay.
A few minutes later the power plays started to come in for Winthrop with three straight Wakefield penalties giving the Vikings their 5-on-3 chance for just under two minutes.
But Wakefield goalie Abby Boudreau came through for the Warriors and Winthrop couldn’t take advantage of the chance to extend its lead.
“That was the chance,” Martucci said. “If we punch one in there the game is pretty much sealed. But we don’t do it and this is where we’re at. We have to work on that. It’s something we’ll get after at practice. Our age shows at times and shows at the wrong times.”
As the game wore on Winthrop’s offensive chance started to dwindle down and Wakefield took control of the game.
Tallent made an initial sprawling save on a shot early on in the period but Grace Seabury was there to bury the rebound and get the Warriors on the board.
Less than two minutes later Hope Melanson’s tally tied the game at 2-2 with 11 minutes to play in the third.
“I just think we got a little lost in the defensive zone on the first goal and that’s what cost us,” Martucci said. “And those are some of our older players who still don’t understand some concepts. They haven’t played a lot because they weren’t asked to when they were younger. Now that they’re seniors they’re seeing that action.”
The Vikings successfully killed off a pair of Wakefield power plays later in the third but couldn’t find the goal they needed to end their regular season with a win.
Winthrop finishes the season at 8-7-3 and awaits tournament seedings to be announced.
“I’m sure a tie will keep us around where we’re seeded instead of moving up or down,” Martucci said. “A win would’ve been nice but we want to take it one game at a time and see if we can chip away. I’d really like to get one win and see where we can go from there. That solidifies that you belong in the tournament instead of being knocked out in the first round.”
