Winthrop High Sports Roundup

Three shutouts for girls hockey team

The Winthrop High Lady Bulldog hockey team recorded three shutouts in the past week, outscoring its opponents 22-0, to improve its record to 4-0 on the season.

“We’re receiving great play from everybody in the lineup,” said WHS head coach Anthony Martucci. “Our defense and goaltending have been solid and we have balanced lines on offense that keep the pressure on the other team.”

The most recent victory for the Lady Bulldogs, who incorporate players from Winthrop, Lynn, and Saugus, was a 9-0 blanking of Peabody this past Saturday at Larsen Rink. Junior Caroline McKinnon led the Winthrop offensive onslaught with a hat trick and two assists. “This was a real breakout game for Caroline,” said Martucci. “She’s on course to score 100 points in her career.”

Also lighting the lamp for the Lady Bulldogs, who scored three goals in each period, were Gabby Keniston, Ariana Dembro (who had two goals), Savannah Norcross, Emma English, and Meghan Chavis.

In a game played the week before, the Lady Bulldogs had an easy time in a 10-0 whitewashing of Matignon in which Martucci was able to give extended playing time to all of his players. Norris and Jillian Olevitz scored two goals apiece, with single markers coming from McKinnon, Chavis, Meg Dolan, Cat Salvetti, Sydney Adamson, and Nicole Puccillo. Abby Carleton and English recorded two assists each and Ally Scarfo also added an assist.

The contest was noteworthy for the shutout recorded by goalie Kayla Yarrow, which was the first of her career. “Kayla made some nice saves down the stretch when Matignon was really pressing to break the shutout,” said Martucci.

Two days before that, Winthrop topped Cambridge 3-0 in a contest that was not as close as the final score might indicate. The Lady Bulldogs held a wide advantage in shots on goal. Norcross, an eighth grader who centers the second line between fellow eighth-grader English and sophomore Olivia Shkliew, assisted on all three Winthrop goals, which were potted by English, Shkliew, and Katie Jeter (who has been out of action after suffering a subsequent injury).

Gretchen Howard earned the shutout in net, making key stops when called upon.

“Our second line has been a huge factor for us,” said Martucci. “Most teams can’t match up with them when they go over the boards. Emma and Savannah have given us a lot of offense, while Olivia plays a perfect game at both ends of the ice.”

In addition, the defensive pairings of Salvetti and Chavis (who has filled in for the injured Jeter) and Kenniston and Kasey Harris have provided a solid corps in front of the Winthrop goal.

“Overall, this team is passing the puck better than any team I’ve coached,” said Martucci. “They’re a great group of girls who are hard workers and who are very supportive of each other. We know there’ll be some challenges ahead for us, but we’ll be ready for whatever comes our way.”

The Lady Bulldogs hosted Gardner this past Monday (December 30) and then will entertain Beverly Thursday at 6:30. They travel to Watertown Monday and return home next Wednesday for a 6:10 face-off against Matignon.

WHS boys basketball team defeats PJ

The Winthrop High boys basketball team broke into the win column with a 54-46 victory over Pope John last Monday at the Holland Gymnasum. Senior captain Cody Wasson led the Vikings with a nifty double-double, scoring 18 points and pulling down 10 rebounds. Junior Bobby Fisher also reached double figures for Winthrop with 15 points.

Sophomore Loran Shuka provided a nice boost for the Vikings defensively, blocking four shots to go along with his six points. Junior Nick Moulaison hit a pair of three pointers for six points. Jake Chiudina added five points and Adam Hubley and Brendan Van Buskirk contributed two points apiece.

“It was a solid team win,” said WHS head coach Mike DiMarino. “We played well at both ends of the floor and it showed in the final result.”

The victory over the visiting Tigers was a crucial one for Winthrop in the Vikings’  quest to qualify for the Division 4 state tourney. Winthrop has just two D-4 opponents for a total of four games on its schedule, of which Pope John is one, and needs to win two of those four contests to reach the post-season. The Vikings’ other D-4 rival is Innovation Academy.

Winthrop participated in the Barry Kipnes Holiday Classic this past weekend at North Reading. The Vikings faced a highly-athletic Greater Lawrence squad from the Commonwealth Athletic Conference in the tourney opener and came out on the short end of a hard-fought 49-38 decision. The contest was a two-possession game most of the way until GL, which drained seven treys on the night, pulled away at the end.

“We played one of our better games this season against a team that was bigger and faster than us,” said DiMarino. “We played great defense against them and shot well from the free throw line (12-of-14 for Winthrop), but we couldn’t find the range on offense. We were 11-of-42 from the field and that is not a winning percentage.”

Chiudina led Winthrop with 16 points and Fisher added 10.

In the consolation game the following night against Lynnfield, the Vikings were unable to solve the Pioneers’ zone pressure defense, resulting in a 65-31 loss.

The Vikings return to their Northeastern Conference schedule this Friday, hosting Marblehead at 7:00. They trek to Swampscott Monday and to Peabody next Wednesday before returning home next Thursday to host perennial powerhouse Lynn English.

WHS boys hockey team shuts out Lynnfield

The Winthrop High boys hockey team asserted control of the game from the start and never let up to record a 5-0 victory over Lynnfield Friday evening in the consolation contest of a holiday tournament played in Saugus.

Charlie Page got the Vikings rolling with a goal in the first period, assisted by Zack Deeb. John Orlando, assisted by Pat Todisco, made it 2-0 before the horn. Todisco (from Orlando) and Steve Goddard (from Orlando and Chris Page) upped the count to 4-0. Orlando lit the lamp for the second time, with assists to Chris Page and Todisco, to put the icing on the Viking victory cake.

The night before in the tourney opener, the Vikings tangled with a strong Melrose sextet and came out on the short end of a 3-1 decision. Melrose took a 1-0 lead with a power play goal with just 0:02 to play in the first period and added two more goals in the second frame. Todisco, assisted by Deeb, put Winthrop on the scoreboard in the third stanza. Viking goaltender Ray Feeley excelled for the Vikings in the net.

Despite the loss, WHS head coach Dale Dunbar was pleased with his team’s effort. “Melrose is a very good Division 1 team,” said Dunbar. “We played well and it was good experience for us to play against that level of competition.”

Earlier in the week, the Vikings journeyed to Mansfield last Monday and dropped a 3-2 decision that echoed the Vikings’ 3-2 season-opening loss to Danvers. After a scoreless first frame, Winthrop took a 2-0 lead in the middle period on goals by Todisco (assisted by Goddard and Chris Page) and Deeb (assisted by Marc Ferullo). However, the Vikings could not sustain their momentum in the final 15 minutes. Mansfield scored three unanswered goals, including a controversial goal on which it was evident that the puck had not crossed the goal line.

The week before the Vikings skated to a pair of important victories over Northeastern Conference rivals Peabody and Marblehead.  The latter triumph against one of the pre-season favorites in the NEC was highlighted by a five-assist night from Todisco. Goal scorers for the Vikings who were the beneficiaries of Todisco’s playmaking were Chris Page (who lit the lamp twice), Goddard, freshman Charlie Page, and Alex Anzuoni. Chris Page, Matt Sennott, Orlando, and Goddard also provided assists on the Winthrop goals.

The contest was a 2-2 affair after two periods and was tied at 3-3 midway through the third until Charlie Page broke the deadlock. Anzuoni’s marker provided the insurance, much to the delight of the packed house at Larsen.  WHS netminder Feeley was a stalwart between the pipes, turning aside 27 enemy shots.

In a 4-2 win at Peabody two weeks ago, Chris Page notched two goals and teammates Sean Gillis and Deeb added single tallies.

The Vikings, who stand at 3-3 overall and 2-1 in the NEC, host Gloucester Saturday (4:00 face-off at Larsen) and travel to powerhouse Beverly next Wednesday.

Lady Vikings off to a 3-1 start

The Winthrop High girls basketball team is off to a nice start, having won three of its four contests to open the season.

The Lady Vikings defeated Gloucester in their 2013-14 debut, 56-35, in a contest that never was in doubt. After limiting the Lady Fishermen to just two points in the opening frame, Winthrop held a commanding 24-12 advantage at the half which swelled to 45-20 after three periods. Theresa Jones hit for 16 points, including a pair of three-pointers, with Ashlyne Babb and Kristen Siscamanis adding eight apiece.

The Lady Vikings’ next conquest was Danvers to the tune of a 48-35 triumph. After moving out to a  21-16 lead by the half, Winthrop surged into high gear in the third period to open up a 40-25 bulge from where the Lady Vikings cruised to the victory. Babb and Nina Bartlette paced Winthrop in the scoring department with 12 points apiece.

Winthrop next took on Fontbonne Academy last Monday in a non-league affair. The Lady Vikings held a 10-5 advantage after one frame, but Fontbonne moved into the lead at the half, 23-20. Winthrop held a slim one-point edge, 38-37, at the third buzzer, and held on for the victory. Sophomore Bartlette turned in a breakout game with 23 points and front court mate Siscamanis added 16 to account for most of the Winthrop offense.

The Lady Vikings’ lone setback occurred Friday at Peabody. Winthrop held a 13-11 lead after one period and trailed by just one at the half, 25-24. However, the Lady Viking offense stalled after the intermission, as Winthrop managed just seven points in each of the last two frames. The final score showed Peabody a 49-38 victor.

Coach Ignacio Oyola  and his crew were facing Salem this past Monday as the Sun-Transcript was going to press. The Lady Vikings will play at Marblehead Friday before returning home to host Swampscott Monday and Peabody in a rematch on Wednesday. Tip-off for all games will be at 7:00.