Lunenburg native Shelby Guinard has long been a standout on the ice, even when it took her away from home.
The netminder starred at Lawrence Academy in Groton before heading Lebanon Valley College in Annville, Pennsylvania, where she recently wrapped up her collegiate career. And in doing so, she garnered some recognition.
Guinard was named to the All-Middle Atlantic Conference second team following her senior season, adding to a resumé that already included being named MAC Defensive Player of the Year and All-MAC First Team in 2020-21 for the Flying Dutchmen.
This past season, Guinard boasted a 2.80 goals-against average and .924 save percentage, making 524 saves while compiling a.5-8-0 record. Guinard, majoring in environmental science, recorded two shutouts and made a season-high 48 saves at Nazareth on Nov. 18.
In her four seasons with Lebanon Valley, she played in 49 games, going 11-23-2. Guinard posted a career 2.63 GAA with a .928 save percentage, making 1,359 saves and notching five shutouts.
The Flying Dutchmen went 12-13-1 this past season, including a 9-10-1 mark in United Collegiate Hockey Conference play. Lebanon Valley is a Division 3. program which began in 2016.
Prior to her time with Lebanon Valley, Guinard earned all-conference honors in field hockey at Lawrence Academy and was a captain of the lacrosse team.
Valera soaring with Gulls
Former St. Bernard’s standout Domenic Valera is off to a fantastic start to his senior season as a captain of the Endicott College men’s lacrosse team.
A 5-foot-11, 175-pound midfielder, Valera has 11 goals and four assists in six games for the Gulls this season. He’s second on the team in goals, assists and points this spring as Endicott has gotten off to a 3-3 start.
The marketing major has scored in all six games his team has played and potted multiple goals three times this season. He netted a season-high four goals in a 15-13 victory over MIT on Feb. 24.
The Fitchburg native has played 27 games for Endicott over the course of three seasons, notching 19 goals and 17 helpers.
At St. Bernard’s, Valera was a captain in both lacrosse and football, capturing a Super Bowl title in 2018 with the Bernardians.
The Gulls return to action on Wednesday, traveling to Bowdoin.
Jefferies, Warriors to clash with River Hawks
Lunenburg native Alex Jefferies and the Merrimack College ice hockey team will have a chance to reach the Hockey East title game Friday night, squaring off with UMass Lowell in a conference semifinal at TD Garden at 7:30 p.m.
Merrimack is 2-0 against the River Hawks this season, winning 5-3 on Feb. 24 at the Tsongas Center before taking a 2-0 victory the next night at home.
The Warriors are coming off a thrilling 1-0 win in double overtime over Boston College last weekend. Merrimack (22-12-1, 16-8-0) saw Mick Messner score midway through the second extra frame to propel the Warriors into the semifinals.
Jefferies didn’t figure into the scoring against the Eagles, but posted five shots on goal in the victory in North Andover. On the season, the forward has 14 goals and 27 assists.
Boston University and Providence will play in the other Hockey East semifinal, with puck drop slated for 4 p.m. The winners of the semifinal tilts will square off for the conference tournament title Saturday at 7 p.m. at the TD Garden.
