Saugus boys soccer defeats Swampscott

SWAMPSCOTT – Following last season?s hiatus into an unfamiliar Cape Ann League, the Saugus boys soccer team has no intentions of letting its Northeastern Conference homecoming party come to an end, not anytime soon.For the NEC?s other 11 members, the celebration cannot conclude quickly enough.On Thursday evening, the Sachems defeated host Swampscott, 5-1, improving their overall (and league) record to 3-0. Saugus opened the season with dramatic one-goal wins over league opponents Gloucester and Danvers. “The kids love being back in the Northeastern Conference and playing in these old rivalry games again,” explained first-year coach Dan D?Amico. “Our program hasn?t won a league title since 1997 but we?re confident in our chances this season.”A dominant 40-minute effort allowed the visitors to enter the half up 2-0.Just 3:40 into the action, senior Guilherme Barbosa was left alone in the middle, where he settled a bouncing ball with his chest before sending a screamer into the top right corner.The lead would double a little under seven minutes later following a corner kick from Jorge Chiquillo, who arched a beautiful ball to the far right post, where fellow junior Connor MacEachern was waiting to head it home.Swampscott (2-2) attempted to regroup with an ensuing timeout but never really threatened with any of its seven chances on Saugus goaltender Kurt Martin (3 saves), making his first start of the season.?Kurt played a very aggressive game and to nearly pitch a shutout in his first action is very, very cool,” said D?Amico. “I was extremely pleased with the way he played.”A stoppage-time tally from Big Blue forward Danny Hingston cracked the goose egg.?We?re an extremely young team with nine sophomores and only two seniors on our roster,” explained Big Blue coach Eric Robinson. “A game like this against a very good Saugus team is a solid learning experience for us. There?s a lot to take from this game.”Much like its predecessor, the second half began with the Sachems swarming the offensive zone, where they would be rewarded for their effort.At the 4:18 mark, Chiquillo hit the back of the net with a low, bending drive inside the left post, finishing off a sequence that began with a fast-break feed from Barbosa.The duo was at it again with 18:37 remaining when Chiquillo outfought two defenders for a loose ball before springing Barbosa for his second tally of the game. Chiquillo would cap the scoring for the visitors on an individual effort that saw captain Will Green make a spectacular first stop before the forward popped home the rebound.?We played with a counter-attack offense and our two forwards consistently made things happen,” lauded D?Amico of the dynamic pairing. “There?s a long way to go in the season but through three games I?m proud to see Saugus competitive like this again.”