SHS Sachem Sports Roundup

Saugus golf starts slow, shows progress

By Dom Nicastro

The Saugus High School golf team has come out of the gates with losses to Swampscott, Winthrop and Masconomet.

“We are 0-3 to start the year, but the team is showing improvement every day,” first-year Saugus coach Dan Bertrand said. “Through the first three matches, our team’s top three-point leaders are Hunter Arsenault (junior), Artie O’Leary (sophomore) and freshman John Morello.

Saugus’ captain is Arsenault.

“He was with us last year and golfed in the four spot,” Bertrand said. “He has moved up to the one spot this year which is always difficult because of the impressive talent our conference has, but he has handled it well collecting points in each of his matches. Hunter has an impressive short game and putts very well.

This is Bertrand’s first year as the varsity coach. He coached the junior varsity team three years before this year. He played for Saugus High golf as a senior in 2016.

Boys soccer tops Malden

The Saugus boys’ soccer team defeated Malden, 3-1, at Anna Parker Field.

Captain Xavier Martinez, Victor Ferreira and Carlos Miranda had the goals.

Saugus was set to take on Swampscott, Wednesday, Sept. 4.

Girls’ soccer starts under new leadership

The Saugus High School girls’ soccer team hopes to continue its string of success under new coach April Martinez, who takes over for the retired Chris Coviello.

The Sachems’ four senior captains are:

Layla Manderson: A center back, Martinez has coached Manderson for the past four years in club. She is a threat in the back. “She has grown to become in my opinion one of the best center backs in the NEC,” Martinez said. “I look to her to organize the defense and get the team prepared for practice and our first game.”

Taylor Deleidi: attacking midfield. Deleidi is always smiling and nothing seems to bother her.  She balances out the other captains, according to her coach.

Tori Carter: Goalie. “This is my first year knowing Tori, but I coached her older sister in club,” Martinez said. “She is a strong goalie that is fierce in net and not afraid of anything.”

Madison Botta: Striker. “She is one of the most skilled players I have ever coached,” Martinez said. “She is unstoppable. Currently, she has 186 points going into her senior year: 54 goals and 32 assists.”

“This year we look as strong as last year,” Martinez said. Saugus went 14-3-1 in the 2023 regular season, got an OT tourney win over North Reading and lost to No. 1-seeded Medfield, 1-0, in the Round of 16.

“Their goal is to win their conference and make it further into the postseason than last year,” Martinez said. “I bring a different coaching methodology along with different formations and style of play. They seem to have embraced these changes and are hungry to win.”

Saugus scrimmaged Bishop Fenwick and ended in a 3-3 tie. The Sachems were down 3-0 in the first half. The girls came out flat-footed but made up for it in the second half, the coach said.

The team also scrimmaged D1 Billerica and lost, 2-1. Billerica scored the winning goal with two minutes left in the match.

“The girls played much better than they did against Fenwick while missing two starters,” Martinez said.

Volleyball opens with victory

Saugus girls’ volleyball began the 2024 campaign with a sweep of Whittier Tech. Junior varsity also won in a sweep.

“Both teams played phenomenally,” Saugus coach Mikayla Niles said. “Each and every girl stepped up today in their positions when needed. Both teams played together and as a unit. Not a better opening-day game than how it went tonight. We’re home Friday for our first home game and hope to carry the same energy into then.”

Two standout players would be middle hitters: senior Abby Wooldridge and senior captain Gia Saunders. Early in the second game, Saugus lost its libero to injury. With no backup libero to play both middles had to play back row. They did excellent back there with their passing and really stepped up to help the team out when it needed it, Niles said.

Field hockey working way toward fresh start

Saugus field hockey coach Barbara Guarente takes her young team into the 2024 season with hopes for a strong season.

Captains are junior Audrey Comeau and senior Sami Sarnacchiaro.

“We have not broken down the teams as of yet,” Guarente said. “We have not played in any games. We have 22 kids signed up with nine of them eighth graders. Our team is very young. We have seen great improvement with everyone during pre-season.”