Saugus girls’ soccer achieves double digits in wins

  Finishing a powerful stretch in which it emerged victorious in eight of 10 games (tying one of them), the Saugus High School girls’ soccer team collected season-victory number 10 last Friday at Malden Catholic. Forward Madison Botta netted her third hat trick of the season to lead the way.

  The Sachems lost a 4-0 decision at Danvers on Tuesday that left them at 10-3-1 overall on the season. Saugus traveled to face Mystic Valley on Thursday (after press deadline) and have three games to close out the regular season next week. They include an away game at Swampscott on Monday, Oct. 24, and home games against Peabody on Wednesday, Oct. 26 (scheduled 7 p.m. start at Christie Serino Jr. Stadium) and Somerville on Friday, Oct. 28.

  Last Friday’s triumph over Malden was the seventh shutout win for Saugus.

  Goalie Tori Carter made a dramatic save on a penalty kick late in the contest to preserve the shutout of Malden.  She was once again aided by the solid defensive efforts in the backfield by Layla Manderson and Violet Hawley.

  The midfield trio of Veronica Ortega, Shawn Sewell and Allison Justice had another impactful game, and forwards Shaylin Sewell and Madi Femino had numerous scoring opportunities.  Botta tallied the game’s lone first-half goal eight minutes into the contest.

  Leading 1-0 at halftime, Saugus added to its advantage when Botta scored the second time off an assist from Ortega. Danica Schena then collected her first varsity goal after taking a nice feed from Lexi Rais, who would also assist on Botta’s third score later in the period.

  On Botta’s third tally, Rais drilled a high free kick that sailed over the Malden defense and allowed Botta to split the defense and put one in the back of the net, accounting for the final margin.

  Malden had a chance to ruin Saugus’s shutout bid when it was awarded a penalty kick with 12 minutes to go in the game. But Carter came up big when she successfully anticipated the direction of the shot and was able to make the stop.