Saugus girls’ soccer notch 6 wins over season’s first half

  The Saugus High School girls’ soccer team has produced a solid first half of the 2022 season. The Sachems have gone 6-2-1 through nine games and have won three times and tied once in their last four outings.

  Last Friday, Saugus shutout Winthrop for the second time this season, 3-0, at home. Two days before, the Sachems edged Swampscott in a hard-fought 2-1 home victory. Saugus is doing something this season that it struggled with in 2021. It’s winning close, low-scoring affairs.

  Aside from a 6-0 loss to Masconomet, Saugus has been in every game and has given up just three goals in the six wins. Goalie Tori Carter and the defense have come away with four shutouts so far.

  In last Friday’s battle with Winthrop, Shawn Sewell tallied off an assist from Allison Justice to give Saugus a 1-0 lead after one half. Justice earned her second assist early in period two when she fed Madison Botta who broke in alone to score the second goal.

  Botta added another score, as Taylor Deleidi took on the role of playmaker and set Botta up for the tally which made it 3-0. Defenders Layla Manderson and Violet Hawley worked well together to keep the ball to the outside and advance the ball to the midfielders, according to head coach Chris Coviello.

  Other players who had solid performances against Winthrop were Danica Schena on defense and midfielder Veronica Ortega. Coviello has expressed his pleasure with the team’s ability to possess the ball and advance it into the opponents’ territory.

  In the win over Swampscott, the Sachems pulled out to a 2-0 lead at halftime and hung on to grab the 2-1 victory. Ortega and Botta scored the goals. Forward Madi Femino had a strong game and nearly tallied in the second half when she drilled a shot just over the crossbar.

  Botta almost scored her second goal in period two but just missed the net on a long-distance attempt. Defender Lexi Rais also came close to netting one in the opening half but missed wide on a long-distance boot.

  Saugus hosted Ipswich on Thursday (after press deadline) and play at Gloucester on Monday, Oct. 10.