SWAMPSCOTT — It was a great day to be Blue. Big Blue.
Saturday, seven years after the idea was first floated to the town, Swampscott opened its newly-redone Blocksidge Field, with brand new turf, and suitable for playing four sports (football, soccer, field hockey and lacrosse).
Then, once the opening festivities were over, the Big Blue girls soccer team christened the field with a 2-0 victory over Monument.
Haley Bernhardt had the honors of scoring the first-ever goal on the new field, in the 32nd minute, with an assist from Grace DiGrande. Allison Tribendis, with the helper from Mackenzie Kearney, scored the second one in the 54th minute.
“The win wasn’t easy,” said coach Alvi Ibanez. “Monument was a solid opponent.”
Early in the game, Monument created three good opportunities, but keeper Nikki Rosa made point blank saves each time.
Also ready to play, Ibanez said, were ninth graders Sarah and Allison Tribendis.
“Their assignment was to create energy through the midfield line as the opponent had been dominating that area,” Ibanez said. “Their magnificent work ethic turned the game around and put us in a position to win.”
Also Saturday, the Big Blue football team went up to Greater Lawrence and dominated the Reggies to the tune of a 44-0 thrashing.
Quarterback Colin Frary tossed five touchdown passes to lead the way. Lucas Cote hauled in the first one, from 10 yards out, early in the first quarter and Isaiah Bascon’s run made it 8-0. Bascon’s 10-yard fumble recovery made it 16-0, with Dylan January receiving the conversion pass from Frary.
Frary’s pass to Jonathan Oriakhi in the second quarter put Swampscott up 23-0 by the half.
It was more of the same for the Big Blue in the third quarter, with Frary hitting Dominic Codispoti with a 35-yarder, and then Auturo Vasquez from 30 yards out, with Thomas Frisoli getting both PATs, and it was 37-0 after three.
Frary hooked up with Cote from nine yards out in the fourth quarter, with Frisoli getting the point-after.
“We’re much further along than we were at this time last year,” said coach Bobby Serino, “both with the coaching and the players. It was a great effort.”
The Big Blue gridders will get their chance to play on the new field Saturday (noon) against Triton, and the festivities won’t be the only thing that motivates them.
“They knocked us out of the playoffs last year,” he said. “We love to play them, and we’re looking forward to it after last year.”
