The breakthrough is going to happen soon for the Newburyport girls hockey team.
Last weekend, the Clippers gave a Division 1 opponent in Andover all it could handle, battling to a tie game in the third period before surrendering a couple of late goals. Then on Wednesday night, the Clippers took a similarly-strong Marblehead program to overtime, but couldn’t find the winning goal in what ended up being a 3-2 loss.
Scoring the goals for the visitors were Olivia Wilson and Bella Belanger, while both Wilson and Riley Freeman had assists. Newburyport (0-2) will now look to pick up its first win when it travels over to Winthrop on Saturday afternoon with a 1 p.m. puck drop.
Two wins to start for Triton swimming
Back in the pool for the first time this season, it didn’t take long for both Triton co-op swimming teams to shake off the rust.
On Wednesday night, the Triton girls swam past Wilmington/North Reading for the 59-33 win, while the boys held on tight to escape with the 47-35 victory. A big story for the Vikings came from three-time Daily News All-Star and junior captain Jenna Whitaker, who won both the 200 freestyle (2:06.32) and the 100 backstroke (1:07.25) with times that already qualify her for the State Meet.
Triton then had two other double-winners, with Alice Anderson taking both the 50 (27.06) and 100 (1:01.07) freestyle, and Riley Whitaker racing to first in those same events on the boys’ side (50: 26.35; 100: 55.93). Also winning events for the Vikings were: Giuliana Cogliani in the 100 breastroke (1:20.46), Ryan Cohen in the 200 IM (2:28.74), Lucas Itrato in the 500 free (5:48.88), Graham Myette in the 100 breastroke (1:19.30) and the girls 200 Medley Relay team of Whitaker, Cogliani, Lillian Cadieux and Anderson (2:07.84).
Pelletier nets hat-trick, but Pentucket falls
Chase Pelletier is in for a monster season for the Pentucket hockey team.
A year ago, the Daily News All-Star led our entire area with 29 goals, while also assisting on 10 others to finish second in total points. Then if you remember, the season ended with him scoring a ridiculous five goals in an upset win over Lunenburg in the Division 4 playoffs, followed by two more goals in a Round of 16 game against eventual state runner-up Dedham.
And after Wednesday, that 29 number from a year ago might be in jeopardy.
It unfortunately came in a losing effort, but Pelletier began his senior season scoring a hat-trick in a 5-3 setback to Methuen. The Panthers spotted the visitors four goals in the first period, but crawled back to within one before the Rangers added an empty-netter in the closing seconds.
Sam Escobar assisted on two of the goals, both Brody LeColst and Mac Cole also had assists, and senior goalie Josh Yoon made 26 saves.
First loss for Amesbury hockey
The season-opening winning streak ended at two for Amesbury hockey.
On Wednesday night, the Redhawks traveled over to face a strong Beverly team, and came up on the wrong end of a 5-2 final. Wes Ackerman and Colin Brown were behind the goals for the visitors, while Tommy Puorro and Lincoln Kime had the assists.
Amesbury (2-1) will look to get back on track when it travels over to CAL foe Rockport on Saturday afternoon for a 4:15 puck drop.