THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, April 18, 2025 Page 17 ~ Saugus High School Sachems Sports roundup ~ SAUGUS GIRLS LACROSSE BATTLES THROUGH OVERTIME THRILLERS, STANDOUT PERFORMANCES By Dom Nicastro The Saugus High School girls lacrosse team has played a series of close, high-energy games since opening the season, including a pair of overtime thrillers and some impressive wins along the way. The Sachems beat the Voke, 18-6, behind five goals from Mara Faiella and four goals and three assists from Ashley Rezendes. Layla Rodriguez added three, while Teaghan Arsenault and Tori Carter each scored two. They later took a dramatic 11-10 double-overtime win over Gloucester, with Rezendes and Natalie Bruno leading the way with three goals apiece. Faiella and Arsenault chipped in two each, and Brooke Diaz added one. Saugus narrowly lost 10-9 to Winthrop despite a hat trick from Aly Mabee. They also dropped a tight 7-6 overtime game to Salem, with Mabee again notching three goals and Arsenault, Casey Hanifen and Natalie scoring one each. Saugus coach Barbara Guarente praised the defensive core of Paige Millea, Cathlyn Dixon, Amanda Rezendes, Carter and Mabee for their zone play, and first-time goalie Jordyn Ripley Deminski, who has racked up 77 saves so far. Next up for the Sachems is a home game against Beverly on April 29. GIRLS TRACK AND FIELD ROLLS OVER SALEM, LOOKS AHEAD TO WINTHROP SHOWDOWN The Saugus girls track and field team dominated Salem 84-20 behind a wave of strong efforts from veterans and newcomers alike. Head coach Joe Alba, now in his fourth year at the helm, is optimistic. “We’re a young team with a lot of potential,” Alba said. “On the girls side we have only five girl seniors so that’s a good number considering we have 30 girls BASEBALL | FROM PAGE 16 outfield. Offensively, Mabee pointed to a more disciplined approach at the plate – especially in the fifth inning explosion against Masco – as a sign the team is progressing. And after facing small ball pressure, aggressive baserunning and defensive miscues, Mabee said on the team. The season is still young, and they have so much more room to grow.” Captains Brianna Feldman, Peyton DiBiasio and Angie Lopez have led by example all season, and a host of athletes added to the point total in the win over Salem, including Soraya Mathieu, Destiny Okoye, Kendall Hatch, Alesha Bien-Aime and Kylie Arwine. Alba also shouted out a group of “young guns” from the middle school who have stepped up to varsity competition. Saugus was scheduled to battle Winthrop April 16 at Serino Stadium in a matchup between two hard-working, youth-heavy squads. BOYS TRACK NOTCHES FIRST WIN BEHIND DOMINANT OUTINGS FROM MATHIEU, FERRARO The Saugus boys track and field team earned its first win of the season in a 66-56 decision over Salem. Kalaeb Mathieu led the way with 20 points, finishing first in the 100-meter, 200-meter, long jump and high jump. Paxton Ferraro added 15 points with wins in the shotput, discus and 110 hurdles. Justin Bremberg contributed nine points, and Kason Imbrogna and Nick DeRosa each picked up four in the distance events. Other contributors included Antonio Flores (third in 100-meter), Jacob Hunt (first in javelin), Gabe DeSouza (second in javelin), Nick Thompson (second in discus), and Dawin Camillo-Grullon (third in shot and discus). Saugus now stands at 1-2 on the season and was set to face Winthrop April 16. BOYS TENNIS BUILDING MOMENTUM DESPITE EARLY LOSS The Saugus boys tennis program, launched five years ago under head coach Al Turco, continues to grow with a mix of experienced leaders and developing talent. The team dropped its season opener to Greater Lowell, but senior captain Matt Cipriano earned a singles win, picking up where he left off from a strong 2024 season. “Matt is a great player and a great person,” Turco said. “He’s been a rock for our program.” While most of the team fell in their matches, the the early-season challenges are sharpening the team for the stretch run. “As a team we created goals in the beginning of the season,” Mabee said. “When things don’t go our way, we are reminded by the goals we have as a team that we must move forward, learn from our mistakes, correct them in controlled environments like practice and be ready again for the next challenge in the schedule. The goals have kept the team accountable and reminds us all why we are doing, what we do every day. Looking down the line the season may seem long, but it quickly sneaks up and having our goals in mind, we attack today with everything we have and let the chips fall from there.” coaching staff was impressed by the team’s grit. Assistant coach Kevin Driscoll joins the team this year, bringing additional experience and leadership. YOUNG SOFTBALL SQUAD SHOWS PROMISE DESPITE TOUGH WEEK The Saugus softball team dropped two games last week to fall to 2-3 (1-3 NEC), but head coach Steve Almquist remains encouraged by the team’s energy and development. “We’re a young team, but the kids are extremely coachable and continue to show improvement from game to game,” Almquist said. In a 10-3 loss to Masconomet, the Sachems jumped ahead early behind an RBI double from Lily Ventre and an RBI triple by Maria Silva. Despite 12 hits, the team stranded 15 baserunners. Pitcher Sofia McCarrier, an eighth grader, went the distance and earned praise from Almquist. “She pitched very well against a tough lineup,” he said. “Her control was excellent, and she did exactly what we needed her to do and that was to throw strikes, and I was extremely pleased with how she performed.” Ventre went 3-for-3 and was a home run shy of the cycle. Other key contributors included Alexa Morello, Ari Chianca, Alannah Duong, Layla Demonte, Hannah Duong and Danica Schena. Saugus followed that with a 10-2 road loss to undefeated Gloucester. Ventre stayed red-hot at the plate, going 2-for-4 with another RBI, and Chianca added a pair of hits, including an RBI single. McCarrier once again pitched a complete game, and Almquist highlighted her resilience as the team’s workhorse. “I cannot stress enough how impressed I am with what McCarrier has been able to do thus far this season,” Almquist said. “Unfortunately, the pitching depth that I thought we would have at the beginning of the season did not materialize so right now everything has fallen on to her shoulders. However, she has embraced this challenge with a smile and continues to learn and show improvement from game to game. We are in the process of developing some backup for her so hopefully help is on the way. Until then I have no doubt that she along with her teammates will continue to rise to the challenge.” The Sachems return home this week with games Wednesday, April 16, vs. Salem and Thursday, April 17, vs. Northeast Voke. FIREFIGHTERS | FROM PAGE 6 “State Police fire investigators assigned to the State Fire Marshal’s office and Saugus FD determined that this fire started on an exterior deck at the rear of the building and then spread to the main structure. They found no evidence that the fire was intentionally set, and while they are looking at multiple potential factors they are all accidental,” Wark said. “What we do know is that this is the time of year when more and more people spend time on their porches, and unfortunately that means more fire activity, too. These fires FIREFIGHTERS | SEE PAGE 22
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