Swampscott boys soccer defeats Saugus 3-1

When the game started, both teams were still alive for the state tourney. When the game was over, only one still had its hopes alive to qualify for the “big dance” ? Swampscott, which defeated Saugus, 3-1.Coach Art Simms brought his Big Blue team into the game at Anna Parker Field in Saugus with a record of 5-7-2 (5-6-2 NEC). With four games to go (8 points), the team has to win six of the eight points. He mentioned, “We can’t let down against anyone if we hope to qualify.”The game started as you would expect from two teams on the brink of elimination. It was up and down the field, with the defenders from both teams, along with the two keepers, Joey Meuse of the Sachems and Dean Dennis of the Big Blue, playing exceptionally well.There is an old saying in sports, especially in dealing with keepers, “It is better to be lucky than good.” In the first half, the Saugus strikers hit the post twice and the crossbar once. The action continued unabated for the first 39 minutes of the half. There was no letup, even when both coaches substituted. With one minute to go in the half, Swampscott struck. Mark Simms, a junior midfielder, carried the ball down the left wing and crossed it into the area. The Saugus keeper came off his line to play the cross and was out of position for the head ball from John Beaulieu that beat the keeper to the low left corner. This made the score Swampscott 1, Saugus 0. Within 30 seconds of the restart, the half ended.The second half started with Saugus in control. Less that two minutes after the start of the half, Saugus tied the game. Carmen Bordenaro was in alone on the right wing, and Dennis came out to the corner to cut down the angle. He blocked the shot, but did not stop the rebound that bounced to Kenneth Mills, who had an open net and did not miss. This made the score 1-1.Two minutes later, the Swampscott keeper dropped the save and a Saugus striker got the ball and had all 24 feet of the net to shoot at from about 8 yards out. He pushed the shot wide of the left post. Nine minutes later, in the 53rd minute, Swampscott went ahead to stay. Evan Farr crossed the ball from the right sideline that was headed on by Chris Nenshati, who headed it to an unmarked Beaulieu, who buried a header into the back of the net for his second goal of the game. This made the score Swampscott 2, Saugus 1.Saugus, now knowing that the end was near, brought everyone up. Tommy Duplisea and Luke Rossi had some glittering chances to even up the game, but the Big Blue defenders were equal to the task. Farr, John Michael Mason, Nenshati, Ethan Scott and Matt Gateman did yeoman work on the back line. With 3 minutes to go, Swampscott iced the game when Christoffer Riseng, probably the most skilled player on the Big Blue team, received a pass from the right wing and gave Nenshati a drop pass that he blasted into the corner from 10 yards out. The game ended with the score Swampscott 3, Saugus 1.Simms said after the game, “We still have a long road to go. We have Gloucester at home on Wednesday, then to Marblehead Friday for a game under the lights. Then, finally North Shore Voke on Monday. We need four points to make it.”Saugus now drops to 4-8-3.