Sports 02-04-2016

WHS sports roundup

Girls hockey team

defeats two opponents

The Winthrop High Lady Bulldog hockey team enjoyed a successful week, defeating a pair of Northeast Hockey League (NHL) opponents, Medford and Marblehead.

Last Wednesday’s 4-1 win over Medford at Larsen Rink saw the Lady Bulldogs come out skating on all cylinders, outshooting Medford by a wide 19-2 margin in the first period. However, the lone goal of the stanza for Winthrop came off the stick of Katie O’Shea, and when Medford tied the score at 1-1 after two frames, the Winthrop squad was in a bit of a funk.

“We had controlled the game, but only had a 1-1 tie to show for it,” said WHS head coach Anthony Martucci. “So we got together before coming out for the third period and decided we had to do better.”

The Lady Bulldogs soon made their hard work pay off. Sophie Leray gave Winthrop a 2-1 lead three minutes into the third stanza and Kelsey Griffiths, who has rediscovered her scoring touch from earlier in the season, made it 3-1 a few minutes later. Ashley Miles applied the coup de grace with 4:00 to go with another marker to put the game on ice.

Marblehead came to Larsen Saturday for another key NHL matchup and once again Winthrop asserted control from the outset. Mia Price converted a rebound to light the lamp; Olivia Shkliew scored on a power play; and Griffiths made it 3-0 by the midpoint of the first period.

Marblehead would get one back before the buzzer and drew within 3-2 on a 5-on-3 advantage in the middle frame, but WHS goalie Gretchen Howard held off any further Marblehead scoring forays the rest of the way to notch the tying goal.

Martucci and his crew, who now are 7-4-1 overall and 5-2 in the NHL, need just three points in their remaining six games to qualify for the post-season state tourney. The Lady Bulldogs were set to host Algonquin Regional last night (Wednesday) and will travel to Peabody Saturday. They entertain  Belmont Monday in a contest that will be highlighted by Senior Night festivities starting at 6:00 and then will host Beverly Wednesday at Larsen at 6:10.

WHS boys hockey team defeats Beverly, Saugus

The Winthrop High boys hockey team took the measure of a pair of opponents from the North Division of the Northeastern Conference last week.

In a 5-1 triumph over Beverly Saturday afternoon at Larsen Rink, junior Charlie Page lit the lamp for the hat trick, while also adding an assist, to pace the Viking victory.

Page scored his first marker in the opening period on a power play, assisted by Noah Hodgkins. Steve Holgersen made it 2-0 with a short-handed goal (assisted by Mike Norris and Hodgkins) in the second period and Henry Brooks, assisted by Page, made it 3-0 a few minutes later. Both of Page’s next two goals came before the second period ended and both were on the power play. Dave Barry assisted on the first and Dean Paulson and Sam Yarrow assisted on the second.

Beverly scored its lone goal of the night in the final frame to spoil WHS goalie Greg Gill’s shutout bid.

Last Wednesday the Vikings traveled to Kasabuski Arena in Saugus and came home with a 3-1 triumph. After a scoreless first 15 minutes of play, Winthrop erupted for three goals in the next 15-minute stanza. Holgersen (assisted by Norris and Page) broke the deadlock with a power play tally. Norris, from Page, made it 2-0 with another power play marker and Tyler Mignosa scored unassisted to increase the Viking lead to 3-0.

Saugus scored a goal in the third period to break up Winthrop netminder Brandon Creador’s shutout attempt.

Coach Dale Dunbar and his crew were set to take on Somerville of the Greater Boston League last night (Wednesday) and will host Danvers Saturday at Larsen at 4:00. Winthrop will be off until next Saturday (February 13) when they host non-league rival Belmont.

The Vikings stand at 8-5-3 overall and are 5-3-1 in the Northeastern Conference North Division. They need just one more point in their final four games to qualify for the post-season state tourney.

WHS boys fall

to Gloucester, 60-47

The Winthrop High boys basketball team came out on the short end of a 60-47 decision with Gloucester last Friday at the WHS gym.

The contest was deadlocked at 13-13 after the first period, but Gloucester moved out to a 37-30 edge at the half. The Vikings stayed close after the intermission, trailing 45-37 after three frames, but the visiting Fishermen pulled away over the final eight minutes.

Devin Pulsifer turned in a strong game for the Vikings with 21 points (including three three-pointers) and nine rebounds. Chris Zuffante added six points and pulled down nine boards.

Dimonne Marshall chipped in seven points, Alex Dernier and Jake LaFratta hit for five points apiece, and Loran Shuka contributed four points for Winthrop. Harry Floyd did not make the scoring column, but led the Vikings with three steals.

The Vikings play at Marblehead Thursday and at Salem Monday.

WHS indoor track teams

compete in NEC Meet

The Winthrop High girls and boys indoor track teams competed in the Northeastern Conference All-League Meet that was held Friday at the Reggie Lewis Athletic Center.

Holly Benson turned in the top placement for the Lady Vikings, taking third place in the 600 dash with a time of 1:42.37. Holly was just .34 behind the second place finisher and .40 behind the winner in the hotly-contested event.

Gianna Massa earned a fourth place medal in the shotput with a toss of 32’-2.75”. Christina Leone added a point to the Lady Viking tally with a sixth place performance in the two-mile run in 13:23.62.

Two of the Lady Viking relay teams also earned medals. The 4 x 400 quartet took a fourth place with a clocking of 4:26.95 and the 4 x 800 squad finished in sixth place in 11:45.76.

On the boys’ side, Nikolas Beshere scored the lone point for Winthrop with a sixth-place finish in the two-mile run in 11:20.63.

From the Press Box sponsored by: MSA MORTGAGE

Noted around town

By: Jim Lederman

Faces in the Crowd

Ex-Lady Viking’s 100-point scorer, Taylor Brown, assistant coach of the Bulldawgs enjoying breakfast at JAC’s restaurant. Taylor was captain at Nichols College.

Large crowd at Salem State to watch the Vikings and Magicians, two archrivals on the ice, in a big game in the Northeast Conference. Howie Conley, Jim Nelson, Mary and Doug Chalmers, Steph and Jim Costin, Paul and Linda Roy, Chris and Mary Page, Carl Tarantino, Dave Barry, Ken and Maria Hodgkins, Cathy Norris, Brian Marley, Cliff and Lisa Yarrow, ex-Viking Pat Feeley, Bob and Susan Tallent, George and Marianne Brooks.

Miss Lady Vikings

Condolences to Peg Bailey on the loss of her brother Gene Sheehan, who passed away last week at the age of 59. Gene, a 1974 WHS graduate lived in Maine.

Peggy’s the legendary Lady Viking basketball and softball manager. Peg has been a loyal score keeper and huge supporter of Lady Vikings sports. A member of the Winthrop High School Hall of Fame, she was on the WHS Hall of Fame Committee since 1997. We extend our condolences to Peg and her family.

College Hockey Captains

Hats off the Ferrara sisters! Two college hockey captains from Winthrop. The Ferrara name is legendary in WHS sports. Nicole and Janelle Ferrara are captains respectively at Syracuse and Yale University.

They are the daughters of Frank and Lisa (Montelone) Ferrara and grandfather Frank ‘Buster’ Ferrara are members of the Winthrop High School Hall of Fame! I played with the ‘patriarch’ of the family, ‘Buster’ back in the 50’s!

Lisa is in the Bentley University Hall of Fame. Frank Jr. played at RPI and on coach Bob DeFelice’s first WHS NEC championship team. What family can claim “two college hockey captains?” We salute the Ferrara family, another great Winthrop athletic family!

Go Wildcats

Congrats to Lady Bulldawg skater Ally Scarfo on her acceptance to the University of New Hampshire. She will be a ‘Wildcat’ in September.

Her brother Joe, ex-Viking all-star is a junior on the Curry College hockey team. Ally will join ex-Lady Viking all-star, Poli Tsiotos in Durham, New Hampshire.

Go Wildcats!

Faces in the Crowd

Congrats to Tracy Martucci, named ‘Coach of the Year’ by the Winthrop Chamber of Commerce. Tracy coaches the Winthrop Girls Soccer team and is a member of the Winthrop High School Hall of Fame.

Her husband Anthony Martucci was a past recipient of the Chambers Hall of Fame. Butch played on the WHS 1992 NEC championship football team and blocked for ‘touchdown’ Tony Palmer.

Happy Birthday to Bobby Aquilino, a legendary Somerville athlete growing up. Remember the old ‘Tech Tourney’, WHS hoop teams won a state title in 1953 and it was a Winthrop tradition to play in the old Boston Garden!

The Vikings hockey team is preparing to play in the MIAA Tourney – ‘March Madness’. The final three games for the Vikings are at Larsen Rink.

Let the Games Begin!

A Pause for Applause

The assistant coaches usually do not receive credit for the victories; today we salute two Viking assistance coaches who are the best in the Northeastern Conference.

Jon Cadigan, Viking football defensive co-ordinator, the doctor of defense held the high scoring Revere defense to just to touchdowns on Thanksgiving, leading the Vikings to a big upset victory over Revere. In 2014 his defense produced an undefeated conference record.

Michael Norris, top assistance on the Vikings offense and another NEC title in 2015! Mike, a former standout for the Vikings, spends more time at Larsen Rink than anyone.

Mike is always coaching his son Mike, Viking co-captain and cheering for his daughter McKayla, a sophomore standout on the Lady Bulldawgs. We salute two outstanding Viking coaches.

Let’s hear the applause!