SWAMPSCOTT — The Swampscott girls lacrosse team got its second win in as many days, beating Danvers 14-6 in its home opener Tuesday.
The Falcons posed a nice early test for the Big Blue, who have plenty of players still adjusting to varsity play just three games into the year.
“We have a very young team out there,” first-year Swampscott head coach Jillian Robinson said. “We have four returners that have the varsity experience. We’re just trying to get the rest of our team up to that level where we left off two years ago. Obviously we’re not the only team in this situation.”
Minus a three-goal fourth quarter for Danvers, it was a pretty well-rounded win for Swampscott for most of the night.
Harper Clopton continued her dominant start to the year, scoring five goals to bring her three-game scoring total to 11.
“When you need (Harper), she comes right through,” Robinson said. “She’s Ms. Clutch. You need a last minute goal, she’ll get you down there. She’ll be the first one in there to play on defense. We’re very lucky to have her.”
Elizabeth Green also had a well rounded game with two goals and two assists, while Reese Robertson added another three goals and two assists. That puts both Green and Robertson at seven goals each on the season.
“Elizabeth Green, her stick skills are just unbelievable,” Robinson said. “I tell her she’s like water, she’s so smooth and when we need that ground ball or need to win the draw she’s always someone right under there getting that ball and coming up big for us. She’s so good at moving the ball and knows where our players are. It’s huge both offensively and defensively for us.”
Also adding to the scoresheet were Broghan Laundry with two goals and one assist, Abby Eichler and Coco Clopton with one goal each and Jordan Waters with one assist. Coco Clopton also helped anchor the defense in front of a nine-save day from Sasha Divall in net.
“(Coco) is the spitting image of Harper,” Robinson said. “She’s a freshman and we have her on defense. She’s always right in the play with Harper breaking things up. Those two don’t even have to talk.”
Harper Clopton scored all of her five goals in the first half and Robertson, Green and Coco Clopton all added one each in the early going.
On the back end, Divall made a nice save on a free position just before the break and Waters had a block on another to give Swampscott a 8-2 lead heading into the break.
The Big Blue came out red hot in the third quarter. Harper Clopton assisted a goal from Laundry and Green snuck a shot in the near post after a free position to stretch the lead to 10-2.
Laundry added another goal and Eichler scored hers next to help put Swampscott up 12-3 before the fourth.
Danvers had the slight edge in goals in the final quarter and Robertson added a pair of goals to cap off the scoring for Swampscott.
“Danvers so far was the team that gave us the most pressure this season,” Robinson said. “It really tested us, our stick skills and our patience. We definitely have a better picture of what we have to work on moving forward to get ready for Peabody on Thursday.”
Swampscott (3-0) hosts Peabody Thursday (4).
