SHS Sachems Fall Sports Roundup

By Dom Nicastro

Field hockey ends in a thriller, Sewell sisters leave a legacy

The 2025 fall season for Saugus girls’ teams will be remembered for one defining word — impact. Field hockey broke through to the postseason for the first time in nine years; girls soccer finished just one spot shy of the tournament with historic career milestones; and the town’s girls programs continued to cement themselves as one of the region’s strongest eras for female athletes.

For first-year Saugus field hockey Head Coach Julie Champigny, this season was about pride, patience and progress. The Sachems’ remarkable turnaround ended in heartbreak — a 1-0 double-overtime loss to Apponequet in the Division 3 State Tournament — but it capped a 9-10 season that revived a program that hadn’t reached the postseason since 2016.

“It didn’t end the way we wanted, but we battled them into two rounds of 7v7 overtime,” Champigny said. “We had so many corner chances that were stopped, and Jordyn Ripley-Deminski was amazing in net. The effort was incredible.”

The Sachems’ late-season surge included key wins over Everett and Danvers, powered by Angelina Dow, Julia Strout, Teaghan Arsenault and junior captain Sydney Ferreira. Ripley-Deminski, a junior captain and one of the NEC’s top goalies, anchored a defense that became the foundation of the turnaround.

“This group set a standard,” Champigny said. “They earned their way into the tournament, and now they know they belong there.”

The field hockey program had just 18 players this season — including three seventh graders — forcing starters to play without rest. Yet the young roster’s stamina and skill only grew stronger as the season went on. Captains Anna Enwright and Audrey Comeau (seniors) joined Ferreira and Ripley-Deminski in leading the program through a tactical midseason shift to a 3-3-3-1 formation that sparked better ball control and more offensive pressure.

Champigny credited the entire team for embracing change. “They’ve grown up fast,” she said. “They’re part of something special.”

Girls’ soccer falls shy of tourney but makes mark on history

Girls’ soccer, meanwhile, narrowly missed a postseason berth but continued the program’s tradition of producing record-setting scorers. Head Coach April Martinez’s team finished 6-11-1 and ranked 33rd in Division 3 — just shy of a playoff spot.

“We were so close,” Martinez said. “We tied Division 2 Billerica in the last game of the season, and that match showed the growth and heart of this group. We have a lot to look forward to.”

This season also marked the end of an era for the Sewell sisters — senior captains who combined for 183 career points. Shawn Sewell became just the second 100-point scorer in program history, finishing with 58 goals and 42 assists, while twin sister Shalyn ended her career with 83 points on 47 goals and 36 assists. Together, they joined 2024 graduate and all-time leader Madison Botta (137 points) and 1988 standout Pam Hashem (96 points) atop the Saugus scoring record book.

“It’s incredible that three of the top four scorers in Saugus girls soccer history have come from the past two seasons,” Martinez said. “They’ve helped redefine what success looks like for this program.”

Junior Sydney Deleidi added seven goals and four assists, emerging as the next offensive leader. Freshman Selena Garcia — who missed the season’s start with a minor knee procedure — impressed with her speed and physicality, while her sister Maria, a junior captain, led a defense that often held stronger teams to single goals. Senior goalkeeper Peyton DiBiasio, who joined the team from basketball, filled a vital role in net, while junior keeper Lauren Mudafort gained valuable minutes out on the field and will take over next season.

“I’m excited about where we’re headed,” Martinez said. “We lost a lot of scoring power, but the younger players are ready. We have a strong defensive core and leadership returning.”

A golden era

Both programs share more than similar records — they share a sense of resurgence that’s rippling through girls athletics in Saugus. From basketball to softball, and now field hockey and soccer, the town’s female athletes are building something that looks a lot like a golden era. In fact, it’s already here. DiBiasio is the girls basketball’s all-time leading scorer. Along with Botta, that’s two all-time leaders in the same era.

“Girls sports in Saugus are thriving,” Martinez said. “The effort, the leadership, and the pride these athletes show — it’s setting the tone for every program that follows.”