Swampscott field hockey captures victory

Coming into Monday?s game at Stackpole Field against Saugus, Swampscott field hockey coach Jamie Spano hoped that her team would come out with plenty of fire after being shut out in back-to-back games. For a while, however, the Big Blue didn?t quite have that fire Spano wanted.The Big Blue eventually shook off the slow start to score goals two minutes apart late in the first half to take a 2-1 lead. Swampscott then put the hammer down and dominated the second half, scoring two more times to pull away to a 4-1 victory over the Sachems.?We came out in that second half like I thought we were going to in the first half,” Spano said. “We did a lot of things better in the second half and it was nice to get a win after losing the two games in a row.”Swampscott (6-2-2) was able to generate a couple of quality chances early in front of Carolyn Wilk?s net, but couldn?t finish them off. The Sachems (1-6-2) then began to get a foothold of their own and put some pressure on the Big Blue defense but Katie Papele and the defense in front of her held firm.It began to look like the teams were going to head into the half scoreless when the offenses on both sides suddenly began clicking.The Big Blue would strike first with just under 10 minutes left when Sydney Faulkner made a slick run down the right wing and cut towards the goal before feeding a pass in front that Annie Kane slammed home for a 1-0 lead.Off the ensuing draw, Saugus went on the attack and drew even. Slick passing from Giana Dean and Sophia Cogliano got the ball in front of the goal where Ailyn Minaya chipped a shot past Papele just :43 after Swampscott had scored.The Big Blue weren?t done attacking, though, and took the lead for good just over a minute later. Christina King picked up a loose ball and dribbled into the penalty area before uncorking a rocket from 20 yards out that whistled past Wilk for a 2-1 lead at the break.?They came out a little slower than I thought we would but our defense really stepped up around the 25 and didn?t let them get towards our goal,” Spano said.Saugus would make a push at the start of the second half to try and draw even but couldn?t penetrate the Big Blue defense. The lockdown in the defensive end eventually allowed Swampscott to turn up the wick offensively.Michaela Freddo would give Swampscott some insurance with 21:00 left when she scored off a loose ball scramble in front of the Sachems goal.Saugus had a chance to cut the lead back to one but Caity Sheehan?s shot was kicked aside by Papele with 13:00 to go. The Big Blue then put the game away with 6:01 left as Aimee Aylward made a perfect pass in front for a tap-in by Mackenzie Faulkner for the 4-1 final.?It wasn?t our best game,” Saugus coach Barbara Guarente said. “We looked a little tired. We had a couple of chances but it wasn?t one of the best games that we have had this season.”