PEABODY –The Peabody/Lynnfield girls hockey team battled back from a slow start, but eventually the Tanners didn’t have enough time for a comeback in a loss to Norwell, 6-4, Friday evening at McVann-O’Keefe Memorial Rink. After a sloppy first period, the Tanners played neck-and-neck with Norwell until the final minutes of the game.
“We came out flat in the first period, but I liked the way we fought back throughout the game,” said Peabody coach Michelle Roach. “In the end, we just ran out of time. We were doing everything the way we wanted to and we were getting opportunities, but we just ran out of time on the clock.”
Sammie Mirasolo and Jenna DiNapoli each had one goal and one assist to pace the offense for Peabody. Paige Thibedeau and Jen Flynn each scored one goal, while Anya Pineo and Chloe Shapleigh each notched one assist.
“We actually had two of our best players out, one with the flu and one with a concussion, so there were two new pieces on Jen Flynn’s line and we took some time to get into a rhythm,” said Roach. “But once we did find that rhythm, I thought we competed really well.”
The Tanners had particular trouble with Norwell senior forward Casey Ward, who scored five of the Clippers’ six goals.
“She’s a great player, and you’re going to come across players and teams like that when you play a tough schedule,” said Roach. “Hopefully we can use this as a learning experience and be able to defend a little better the next time around.”
It was an up and down first period for the Tanners. Things didn’t start off well, with Peabody getting outshot 7-0 in the first five minutes of the game. Norwell cashed in on one of its many opportunities, as Ward found the back of the net to make it 1-0 with just under 10 minutes to play.
The Tanners continued to play on their heels for the next several minutes, but they finally got into a rhythm in the final six minutes of play. Then, after getting awarded a power play, Peabody tied the game at 1-1 on a goal from Thibedeau with 3:30 left in the first. That momentum didn’t last, however, as Ward netted her second goal of the game less than two minutes later to give the Clippers a 2-1 lead after the first.
But Peabody wasn’t deterred, and the Tanners came right out in the second period and tied the game at 2-2 thanks to a goal from Mirasolo just 37 seconds into the period. Things went back and forth from there for awhile, with Norwell getting another goal from Ward to make it 3-2 less than two minutes later and then Peabody tying it at 3-3 less than two minutes after that on a goal from Flynn. The Tanners then took their first lead of the game at 4-3 after DiNapoli found the back of the net with just over nine minutes to play.
But once again, Norwell stole all the momentum just before the end of the period with a goal — once again from Ward — to tie the score at 4-4 after two periods.
Unfortunately for Peabody, the third period belonged to Norwell. The Clippers took an early lead on a goal from Grace Burke to make it 5-4, but the game was even for the next several minutes. But then, with just under eight minutes to go in the game, Peabody drew a tripping penalty when Ward got in all alone on a breakaway, forcing a penalty shot. Ward didn’t disappoint, burying the shot and effectively sealing the win for Norwell.
Peabody (7-3-0) is back in action Wednesday (5) with a road game against HPNA (Haverhill/Pentucket/North Andover).
“There are some positives that we can take from this game, so now it’s about working hard in practice and coming back next week ready to play,” Roach said.