PEABODY — The No. 9 Peabody/Lynnfield girls hockey team got two goals in the second period and another two in the third to beat No. 24 Plymouth, 4-0, in the preliminary round of the Division 1 tournament Wednesday evening at McVann-O’Keefe Memorial Rink.
Tanners forward Sammie Mirasolo — who notched a hat trick — and goalie Jeny Collins — who had a shutout in net — led the way for the Tanners.
After a scoreless first that saw both teams get a few solid scoring chances, Peabody/Lynnfield got the goal that would stand up as the winner just over three minutes into the second period. Mirasolo scored on a backhand in front. Plymouth goalie Lexxi Corr lost her stick in the scramble in front and couldn’t poke the puck away from Mirasolo at the top of the crease. Jenna DiNapoli started the play, getting the puck back at the right point to Carolyn Garafoli, who drilled it in on Corr, with Mirasolo pouncing on the rebound.
The Tanners made it a 2-0 game with 4:03 left in the second. Corr denied Hannah Gromko on a breakaway, but Gromko followed the puck behind the cage and got another shot on net. That shot was also stopped, but Jennifer Flynn slammed in the rebound for Peabody/Lynnfield
Plymouth had a burst in the third period, sending a flurry of shots at Collins, but she stopped everything as the clock wound down. Corr left the net for Plymouth with 1:54 left and Mirasolo took advantage of the empty cage, scoring her second goal on assists from Flynn and DiNapoli.
With just 4.3 seconds left, Mirasolo completed her hat trick, sliding in another backhander, this time set up by Garafoli.
Plymouth coach Bob McCosh knew his team had to keep Mirasolo and the other speedy Tanner forwards under wraps, but they couldn’t get it done.
“That’s a well-coached team, they set up well and got good shots, they deserved to win, they outplayed us,” McCosh said. “We knew we had to contain (Mirasolo), but we couldn’t, and they’ve got a bunch of other kids who can play too.”
On the winning side, Peabody/Lynnfield coach Michelle Roach was glad her team overcame a slow start.
“We were a little slow at the start, they came to battle, we had to settle down and play our game, just reset and play well,” Roach said. “We want to play with a sense of urgency, but not playing like we have to do everything in one minute.”
Mirasolo was glad to start off the tournament with a solid win.
“I thought we played very well overall, we really kept at it and we were able to connect in the second and third period,” Mirasolo said.
Peabody/Lynnfield will face off against No. 8 Boston Latin Saturday afternoon (3:30) at Ryan Arena in Watertown.
