Page 10 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, April 19, 2024 Saugus Youth Lacrosse welcomes first girls’ team in Opening Day Saugus Sachems 10U — Shown bottom row, from left to right, are: Austen Diozzi, Jaxon Upton, Luca Morando, Jaxson Hurley, Trip O’Brien, Matthew Silipigni, and Evan O’Connor. Shown top row, from left to right, are: Cameron Connors, Cadin Arsenault, Declan Lacey, Jason Cuddy, Nico Caruso, Joey Bardos and Colt Weiner. Shown third row, from left to right, are: Assistant Coach Clint Arsenault, Head Coach Jim Diozzi and Assistant Coach Steve Morando. 8U — Shown from left to right, are: CJ Sico, Giovanni Spadafora, Jamison Powell, and Jaxson Hurley during Sunday’s Saugus Youth Lacrosse Opening Day at Saugus Middle-High School. Shown from left to right, are: volunteers Robin Marshall, fundraising director Susan Diozzi, Crissy Raposo, Breana Scarpuccio and Nicole Cuddy sold raffles. By Tara Vocino Saugus Sachems 12U — Shown front row, from left to right, are: Micheal Damico, Jack Fannon, Cadin Arsenault, Zack Modini, Micheal Raposo, Brody Diozzi and Domenic Valley. Shown second row, from left to right, are: Luca Cvijic, Nolan Descheneaux, Nate Harrington and Assistant Coach Lance Goss. Shown third row, from left to right are: Head Coach Justin Scarpuccio , Joshua Ewsuk, Billy Lauziere, Lukkas Sullivan, Gavin Diozzi, Connor Quirk, Dylan Scarpuccio, Caleb Ashdown, Ryan Rescigno and Assistant Coach Joseph Marshall. S augus Youth Lacrosse welcomed its first girls’ team during Sunday’s Opening Day at Saugus Middle-High School. Belmonte STEAM Academy fifth grader Summer O’Brien, 10, said she is nervous about Opening Day. She plays for the Fighting Flamingos, which is a fifth to eighth grade team that doesn’t have physical contact, like the boys do. Her mother, Girls’ Team Representative Caitlin O’Brien, said they are super excited to have girls be a part of the youth lacrosse program. “They have been wanting to integrate women,” O’Brien said. “With lacrosse gaining popularity, it’s amazing that Saugus is branching out, giving girls the opportunity to have a foundation.” Saugus Youth Lacrosse ProThe 14U team — Shown from left to right, are: Assistant Coach Jim Diozzi, Joey Vanikiotis, Dimitri Rosales, Drew Ferreira, Connor Lacey, Jake Kelley, Andre Rosales, Dom Magliozzi, John Morello, Jack Cuddy, Cam Hanifan, Cam Marchand, Dalton Diozzi, Jameson Salsman, Cole Alexander, James Caruso, Justin Hurley and Joseph Visconti. (Advocate photos by Tara Vocino) gram Director Justin Scarpuccio said there are 103 youth girls’ lacrosse programs in the state, excluding Saugus. “There’s currently a varsity high school and junior varsity at Saugus High School,” Scarpuccio said. “So, the interest was there, but it seemed like no one wanted to make it happen at a youth level.” He remembered when he was a child wanting to play lacrosse when Saugus didn’t have any program 28 years ago. He said his mother tried to get him into different town programs, and no one would accept him into their program because he was out of town. Then, parent John Morris started lacrosse so his son Nick could play. “I knew how those girls felt not being able to play or have played for another town without your friends,” Scarpuccio said. “They just wanted the opportunity.” If all goes as planned, they will offer girls’ lacrosse teams of all ages next year. Belmonte STEAM Academy fifth grader Julianna Cassio, 11, said she and her teammates are so excited to have their first game. The season runs through June. Her mother, Noelle, said today is exciting since it’s the OPENING DAY | SEE PAGE 11
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