Sachems Fall Sports Roundup: Field hockey ends postseason drought, Sewell hits 100, volleyball makes tourney

By Dom Nicastro

It was a historic fall week for Saugus athletics. The field hockey team returned to the postseason for the first time since 2016, girls soccer celebrated a 100-point milestone and volleyball and soccer squads kept battling to the end of the regular season.

In her first season as head coach, Julie Champigny guided Saugus field hockey to its first postseason appearance in nearly a decade — a remarkable turnaround for a small, young roster that finished 9-9 after going 5-12-1 last fall.

Champigny, who spent the past two years coaching Saugus’ JV squad, took over from longtime head coach Barbara Guarente and immediately set out to reenergize the program. With only 18 players — including three seventh graders — the team competed as a varsity-only squad, often relying on sheer stamina and cohesion to stay competitive in the rugged Northeastern Conference.

“I’m just so proud of this group,” Champigny said. “We had players who never came off the field, and their effort and resilience were incredible.”

The Sachems found their rhythm after a key 1-0 win over Danvers, a game Champigny called “pivotal for our season.” Sophomore Julia Strout scored the game-winner off a corner from Teaghan Arsenault, while junior goalie Jordyn Ripley-Deminski anchored the shutout with multiple clutch saves.

“That was the moment our leadership and intensity shifted,” Champigny said. “The upperclassmen stepped up, and the whole tone of the team changed.”

A midseason tactical change from a 3-2-3-2 formation to a 3-3-3-1 lineup proved equally transformative. Angelina Dow moved from defense to center midfield, and Sydney Ferreira transitioned into a central defensive role — adjustments that balanced Saugus’ structure and unleashed more consistent play on both ends.

“The flexibility and buy-in from the players made the difference,” Champigny said. “Once we made those switches, people were in roles where they became unstoppable.”

The team’s four captains — seniors Anna Enwright and Audrey Comeau, and juniors Ferreira and Ripley-Deminski — guided a roster filled with freshmen and sophomores who quickly rose to the varsity challenge.

“I inherited four captains, and they had a lot on their plate with such a young team,” Champigny said. “They became true leaders — positive, vocal and determined to bring the team together.”

Champigny credits her players’ resilience and a strong sophomore class, including Strout, Arsenault and Sofia McCarrier, for the program’s upward trajectory. The team is also taking steps toward long-term growth — including plans for a Saugus Youth Field Hockey League, a crucial addition given that Saugus is one of the few NEC programs without a feeder system.

“We’re so excited about the Youth League,” Champigny said. “You can see how programs with pipelines thrive. For us to make the tournament this year without that base — that’s special.”

Ripley-Deminski is the team’s seasoned goaltender. She made countless saves and is a leader in the circle and has made some “elite saves defending the goal during corners.”

Saugus finished the regular season with three out of four wins, including a 3-0 victory over Everett behind two goals from Dow and one from Ferreira, a 1-0 win over Danvers and 7-0 wins over Northeast Voke and Malden.

Saugus soccer team finishes regular season strong

On the soccer fields, it was also a big week for milestones. The Saugus girls soccer team tied Division 2 Billerica, 1-1, to close the regular season, with Shalyn Sewell scoring the goal and her sister Shawn providing the assist for her 100th career point.

Maria Garcia and Lauren Mudafort anchored a strong defensive showing, and senior goalie Peyton DiBiasio made several key saves.

The team was awaiting its playoff fate as of press time.

Volleyball makes tourney in final week

The Saugus volleyball team won its final few matches to get into the tourney with a 10-10 record. The Sachems earned the No. 39 seed out of 41 teams in Division 3 and will face familiar foe No. 26 Swampscott on the road. Time and date were TBD as of press time.

This is the second straight season the Sachems made the postseason under coach Mikayla Niles, who took the varsity post starting last year.