The Saugus girls soccer team moved to 7-2-1 on the season with a 4-3 victory over Ipswich (1-7-2) on their home turf.
There were six goals scored in the game’s first 20 minutes, with both teams applying offensive pressure and capitalizing on their chances. Ultimately, Madison Botta ended things in the second half – capping off a brilliant day for the sophomore.
The two teams traded possessions early with Saugus causing more trouble. They were able to get multiple shots off, while Ipswich was dribbling far from the net.
Less than four minutes in, the home team took the lead. Saugus’ Madi Femino raced to a loose ball, won position against her opponent, then one-touched the ball into the net against an overpursuing Elin Roberts.
The Sahems doubled their lead in the 28th minute with forward Taylor Deleidi sending a shot into the mesh from the left side – Roberts was unable to track it down.
In desperate need of a response, Ipswich did just that. Saugus goalkeeper Tori Carter went to intercept the ball and missed off her fingertips – leaving the net open behind her. Ipswich’s Lily Harper cut the lead in half, tapping it in.
Just as quickly, however, Saugus would continue the barrage. With just inches between her and Roberts, Shawn Sewell found twine to extend the lead back to two.
Five goals in 16 minutes doesn’t happen often, but it did on Thursday. Off the initial corner kick strike nonetheless, Dana Falardeau sent a ball that deflected off a Sachem and in to make it 3-2.
Then came the equalizer, with Ipswich striker Jane O’Connell finding the ball in a scramble and squeaking the ball across the line.
“They were much more aggressive than we were to the ball, we kind of waited,” Saugus Head Coach Chris Coviello said. “They just wanted it more in the box.”
The fast pace continued moments later, with Femino showing off her poise before finding Maddison Botta on the doorstep. The ball dribbled wide right, however.
With less than 10 minutes remaining in the first half, Juliana Scalisi received the ball, leaving just her and Roberts – who made an incredible save to keep things even.
After a wild first half, the scoreboard read 3-3.
From Ipswich’s perspective, Botta was a pest all game long – constantly poke-checking the ball away from her opponents tracking down loose balls with ease.
“She’s like an engine that never runs out of gas, plays exactly from the beginning whistle to the end whistle,” Coviello said.
The Sachems’ Allison Justice was on her game in the second half, using her physicality to cause trouble for Ipswich players looking to advance down the field.
At the 31 minute mark, there was a collision in front of Ipswich’s goal between three players. Roberts and a fellow teammate of hers wound up on the ground, while Botta was there to clean things up for Saugus into a gaping net (4-3).
The two squads were kept at bay, for the most part, in the final 15 minutes, as opposed to the plethora of goals submitted early on. Ipswich’s comeback bid fell short, and Saugus picked up the victory in what was an explosive game for both sides.
Saugus will be back in action on Monday, Oct. 10 in a road matchup against Gloucester at 4:30 p.m.
Joey Barrett can be reached at [email protected]
