Spartans’ revenge victory deals blow to Saugus’ tourney hopes

LYNN – Shawn Anderson knows what he has on his roster, a team that might be struggling but is full of heart and commitment.”(We) come to play every day,” the St. Mary’s coach said after his team edged Saugus, 11-10, at Manning Field on Saturday. “We’re a bunch of lunch-pail guys that come to work and leave it all on the field, win, lose or draw.”His players are backing him up with their efforts. A career offensive performance from senior Cam Grenham, newfound leadership from sophomore Nick Amenta, oppressive defense led by Andres Rodriguez and more shutdown goaltending from Kyle Torosian all added up to a victory over the Sachems.The decision avenges Saugus’ 8-2 win in mid-April and puts a crimp in the Sachems’ playoff plans as they fall to 6-6. And after an impressive but losing effort against powerful Archbishop Williams last week, the Spartans continue their improvement, moving to 3-11.The linchpin for St. Mary’s season has been Torosian, who has faced 197 shots this season, including 14 last Saturday. Four-star stops against Ronnie Jarosz (two goals and two assists Saturday) and Nick Benoit (three fourth-quarter goals) in the early going kept St. Mary’s within a goal of Saugus.”I love Kyle like my own son,” Anderson said of the senior. “I’d like to have him as a post-grad at St. Mary’s because he’s a great one.”And Torosian got valuable help from an aggressive defense that bottled the Sachems up in their own end and, behind Rodriguez’ physical play, denied Saugus space in front of the net.”It’s the awareness and the communication, knowing where everybody is at all times,” said Rodriguez of a third-quarter shutout that made all the difference. “This was the best defense we’ve played so far and it keeps improving every game.”With the D opening the door, Grenham – who is hoping to play club lacrosse at Merrimack College next year – took over the right side of the field and exploded for three straight goals in the third stanza. His career-best sixth goal of the day on a surprisingly undefended 20-yard laser with 4:24 left gave St. Mary’s its biggest lead at 9-5.”We started moving the ball around more, getting more cuts and just taking more shots,” Grenham explained of the offensive explosion. “Simple, simple stuff.”Goals from Benoit and C.J. Randolph (three goals and three assists) drew the Sachems within two with 7:56 but Amenta delivered the game’s clinching play.Elevating high to take in a seemingly unreachable ball, Amenta (two goals and four assists) sprinted to within 10 yards of the net and bounced in a shot that just dribbled in past Saugus goalie Tu Nguyen’s foot.”He made a play on a ball going over his head, he came up with it and he was off to the races,” said Anderson. “He stepped up (Saturday) and became a leader.”Showing its own resolve, Saugus closed to 11-10 with 33 seconds left on a Chris Sanderson goal but could not get the equalizer.”We had the eye of the tiger and we weren’t going to be denied,” Anderson concluded. “Saugus got close at the end and, I tell you, I wasn’t worried. I’d have bet my life we weren’t losing this game.”Especially with the added motivation of winning for injured co-captain Brian O’Connell, who broke his collarbone in two places in the April loss to Saugus.”These guys played the game for him,” said Anderson. “That’s what it’s about.”