SWAMPSCOTT — In a game between two youthful and familiar sides, Swampscott’s field hockey team got the better of Saugus, 5-1, at Blocksidge Field on Thursday.
After a one-goal loss to St. Mary’s earlier in the week, the Big Blue responded in a fashion that was true to their name. They scored within the first minute of the game, thanks to Lila Giard (2 goals, assist).
“One of our goals was to take control with an early goal. That was our team goal and they did it to start each half. I was pleased they started to find connections in the circle and put the ball in the net,” said Swampscott coach Courtney Russo. “We have a young team and have stuff to work on, but taking the positives from the St. Mary’s game and this game, we just need to build off it.”
Swampscott raced to a 3-0 lead in the first quarter after tallies from Audrey Heath and Maisie Russo.
But Saugus didn’t give up and got a goal back late in the first. The Sachems sprung on a counterattack spearheaded by Julia Strout, Teaghan Arsenault, and Meri Moguaro. Moguaro carried the ball into Swampscott’s half before finding Arsenault on the wing. Arsenault saved the ball from going out of bounds and fired a cross-crease pass to Strout for Saugus’ first goal of the season.
“Julia, Teaghan, and Meri all came down on a fastbreak. It was a nice buildup and it was a nice pass back-and-forth, and Julia was able to score it,” said Saugus coach Barbara Guarente. “We’ve been working on it in practice and it finally came true. I was excited about that goal because something in practice worked.”
With the halftime score still at 3-1, Swampscott started the second half like it did the first. Less than two minutes into the third, Giard tucked her second of the evening.
“She’s a sophomore who was a swing player last year on varsity and didn’t get a lot of varsity game time, but did get some varsity practice time. She’s had a strong preseason and came out with a nose-for-goal and a desire to really work and learn,” Courtney Russo said. “She’s working really well with Olivia Quagrello. We’re finding some good combinations with our younger players and starting to learn how to gel together as a team.”
Speaking of Quagrello, she got herself on the scoresheet in the fourth with an emphatic strike to make it 5-1.
“It was an insert from Maisie Russo to Olivia. It’s a new position for Olivia to take the hits, but she’s super athletic and a strong athlete, and is able to do it,” Courtney Russo said. “Last year was her first year playing field hockey. She was able to pick up the game tactics and the skills really quickly, and did a great job today.”
Taking positives from a negative, Guarente liked what she saw from her young squad.
“I think they played well for our first game,” she said. “We have a young team with a lot of 8th graders out there. There are things we need to work on still, but they’ve come a long way from the first day of practice to now.”
In particular, how vocal her players were.
“I like that they’re communicating with each other on the field. They’re moving the ball around. We’re starting to get the ball out of the middle and out to the wings, which they did accomplish,” Guarente said. “We need to work on positioning. There were a lot of times when we were out of position. I think if they held their positions, we would have been OK, but that comes with time. We’ll get it.”
Saugus (0-1) is back in action Monday on the road against Malden at 4:30 p.m. Swampscott’s (1-1) next game is Tuesday at 4:30 p.m. at Masconomet.
