Big Blue boys soccer team defeats Spartans, 2-1

LYNN – The Swampscott High boys soccer team edged St. Mary’s, 2-1, at Manning Field on Monday.Click here for a photo gallery.Now, all that remains of the Big Blue’s season is their final game of the year against Marblehead on Wednesday.The Spartans, meanwhile, are advancing to the MIAA postseason.Swampscott jumped off to a 1-0 lead in the 17th minute on a cross from Adnan Dzino on the right wing through the arc to a late-breaking Nadav Zafrani, who beat Spartan keeper Mike Campbell to the low right side. Three minutes later, the Spartans tied the score on a cross from Steve Stanko to Julian Yourawski, who was alone in the top of the area, and he blasted a shot past Swampscott keeper Patrick Kennedy.In the 27th minute, the Big Blue upped the score to 2-1 as Zafrani hit his second goal of the night on a very similar play as his first goal. This time the assist went to Niclas Beiser. The rest of the half was played between the two penalty areas.The second half was mainly a defensive struggle as the Spartans tried for the equalizer and Swampscott tried to hang on for its fifth win. Neither offense was able to crack the other’s defense and 40 minutes went by with no more scoring. Winning Big Blue coach Eric Robinson was thrilled with the play of his team. He said, “We have come a long way since September. We are not the biggest team in the league; we win with the skills that the team has.”Spartans coach Mike D’Agostino was pleased with the play of his team. He said, “We played all out like we always do. We will be ready for whomever we play on the weekend.”