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Peabody Girls looking for a perfect finish

Thursday, February, 07 By Matt Williams
Staff writer

When 2-13-0 Peabody set out to win each of its final five games, the Tanners weren't kidding. After last night's triumph over Shawsheen Valley, it's so far, so good.

"We really are hoping we can take the rest of the season," said Peabody coach Larry Minehan.

With goalie Brittany Costa getting better each week and defenders Jen McGill, Amanda Provencher, Tori Konavalchik and Meg Canavan stepping up in the front of the net, that goal isn't as far-fetched as it may look.

Despite their record, the Tanners' play against Medford and Everett two weeks ago helped to spark this recent play. First, Peabody torched EHS' All-State goalie Jessica Westgate for five goals | the most she had allowed in nearly two years. After that, it was a narrow 2-1 setback to the Mustangs, who'd beaten them by eight goals earlier in the year.

"They've really come back and shown what they're made of," said Minehan. "(Assistant coach) Vinny (Patermo) and I were ecstatic at the way we played."

A retooled top line featuring Colby Amor | who leads the North Shore with 16 goals | with Paige Sansaverino and Mariah Wentwerth has keyed Peabody's success. Wentwerth, a sophomore who was moved up from defense, lit the lamp for the first time last night and Sansaverino has collected four goals | three of the them in the last month. Amor also recorder her first assist of the year after the unit was assembled.

"The best thing is we're seeing two assists on a lot of the goals," Minehan explained. "Mariah, as a defenseman, is used to getting in the corners and digging pucks out and that's paid off in freeing Paige up a bit more. The passing has been much better."

Two contests against Stoneham could be the biggest hurdles between Peabody and a solid finish to the season. Besides those, they have a game against Gloucester, who they topped for their first win in December, a rematch with Shawsheen and a game against Algonquin.

For most teams 12 games under .500, a winning streak is a dream. For a team that's come as far as the Tanners have and shown the grit and willingness to learn that they have, it just may become a reality.