PEABODY — The Bishop Fenwick girls hockey team worked some late game magic to capture the 2026 Carlin Cup, defeating Peabody/Lynnfield/North Reading 2-1 at McVann-O’Keefe Skating Rink on Monday.
With the score tied 1-1 and less than two minutes to play, the game appeared headed to overtime. But Fenwick’s Kailey Tinkham had other ideas, weaving in from the right side and backhanding the puck inside the far post for the game-winner. Lexi Salah and Reagan VanHorn had the assists.
“Obviously I’m on the left wing, so I took it on the backhand,” Tinkham said. “I saw an opening between her legs and I just hit it in. It was the easiest play ever. It felt awesome.”
Peabody/Lynnfield/North Reading (PLNR) held a huge edge in shots, outshooting the Crusaders by a whopping 52-11.
Crusaders’ coach Kylie Currier credited her defense for shutting down PLNR’s offense.
“We played really good lockdown defense in terms of our defensemen doing a good job of closing the gap and applying that pressure to them,” Currier said. “We haven’t won it since I’ve been here, but it really helps them playing for something and buying in and being a good team and working for something. With 20 underclassmen, they’re so young. It was good to see them all competing with each other.”
As good as Fenwick’s defense was, its last line of defense – freshman goalie Stella Madarese – was even better, turning away 51 shots to earn Crusaders’ Most Valuable Player honors.
“We didn’t give them (PLNR) too many secondary opportunities, but our goalie simply stood on her head as she has all season,” Currier said. “She’s an amazing player.”
Madarese said she was determined to deliver a win.
“As a freshman I haven’t been here before but I’ve heard that this team hasn’t won in a while. We wanted to change that,” Madarese said. “I really want to get my seniors and everyone to win. My seniors deserve the win because of all the work they’ve put in all season.”
PLNR coach Guy Angiuoni said finishing has been a problem all year.
“We had a couple of one-timers we put into the goalie’s belly when the net was open, so that was a little frustrating,” he said. “This game was similar to our last six games when we had more shots than the other team and outplayed the other team, but the scoreboard didn’t reflect that. But I’m proud of the girls. They gave great attitude and effort and have been very resilient.”
Fenwick struck first, taking a 1-0 lead with less than two minutes to go in the first period on a goal by Brynn Scott (from Tinkham).
PLNR defenseman Sidney Zizza responded about a minute and a half later, burying a feed from senior captain Julia Guzzo to net the score at 1-1. Her efforts paid off with her team’s MVP award.
“Not only is she (Zizza) an offensive force, she’s a lockdown in the defensive zone,” Angiuoni said. “When she rushes the puck, her speed allows her to get back in the defensive zone. All five coaches had her as the game MVP for what she did defensively.”
PLNR ramped up the pressure in the second and third periods, but couldn’t get one past Madarese.
It went from bad to worse in a hurry for PLNR late in the third when it was assessed a bench minor for too many men on the ice with 1:12 to go.
“It’s unfortunate. That was the first bench minor we’ve had all year,” Angiuoni said. “The timing couldn’t have been any worse. I thought if we could get the goalie pulled, we’d have a chance to tie that up. That’s how well they were playing.”
Ranked No. 38 in the Division 1 power rankings, PLNR (4-14-1) needs a win in its final regular-season game Wednesday at home against Haverhill/Pentucket/North Andover at 5:15 p.m. to keep its tournament hopes alive.
“We go out and try to win every single game. We don’t take anyone for granted and we don’t get psyched out by any team higher in the standings,” Angiuoni said. “Hopefully we get that, as we’d like to extend the season for our seniors.”
Angiuoni commended several players for their play.
“Lexi Prifti has only been playing goalie for a couple of weeks,” he said. “She has performed admirably and done a great job. Her sacrifice to step up and play goalie when she’s never played goalie before speaks to her character.
“Eleni Spack plays with composure and is our leading scorer this year, and that’s saying something for a defenseman. Sarah Mitchell and Ava Louanis did well out there, and Melania DiVirgilio has really progressed this year. She’s really stepped up in the last month.”
Ranked No. 28 in the Division 1 power rankings, Fenwick (6-11-1) has already locked up a tournament spot. The Crusaders close out the regular season at home Wednesday against Gloucester at 6:40 p.m.
Photo: Spenser Hasak | Purchase this photo
Photo: Spenser Hasak | Purchase this photo
Photo: Spenser Hasak | Purchase this photo
Photo: Spenser Hasak | Purchase this photo
Photo: Spenser Hasak | Purchase this photo
Photo: Spenser Hasak | Purchase this photo
