THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, SEpTEmbEr 5, 2025 Page 11 Saugus Fall Sports Preview: Girls’ soccer riding high, boys’ soccer nets new coach By Dom Nicastro S augus launches another busy fall athletics season, and The Advocate catches up with four programs — girls’ soccer, boys’ soccer, volleyball and golf — each of which have set clear goals and realistic expectations in a rugged Northeastern Conference. Girls soccer: defending standard, rebuilding numbers Head Coach April Martinez enters her second season after a stellar 13-3-2 campaign that finished No. 9 in the state and first in the conference. The headline this fall is roster turnover and developmental opportunity: The Sachems graduated nine seniors, and Martinez currently carries 16 varsity players with 2–3 swings while JV numbers are thin — enough that the staff is inviting seventh graders to help fill the sub-varsity side. Leadership remains a strength. Martinez named four captains with complementary styles and experience: · Shayln Sewell — “Quietest of the four captains but again brings five years of varsity experience… The girls on the varsity this year look up to her.” · Shawn Sewell — “5th year varsity player… Play maker. Girls look up to her and look for guidance from her.” · Natalie Justice — “Outspoken senior captain… She will also give 110%. Learns from her mistakes and is a great leader.” · Maria Garcia — “Calm, composed leader on and off the field… She gives 110% all the time. When she is hurt, when she is sick. She brings the zen.” The Sachems’ identity should look familiar: “Teamwork, camaraderie” are what Martinez cites as this year’s builtin strength. The early-season emphasis will be accelerating young players — eighth, ninth and 10th graders who’ve never played varsity — to varsity speed and physicality. Martinez keeps the focus tight: Swampscott looms as the early measuring stick and likely toughest league rival. “This year will be challenging for sure,” the coach said. “We are working hard to prepare, getting organized and finding the right formation and line up to be successful… Success may not be winning every game but improving and growing as a team.” Boys’ soccer: new voice, high energy New Head Coach Josh Crespo takes over a program that was 6-8-4 last fall and second in the Northeastern Conference. While he wasn’t on staff in 2024, Crespo sees a healthy blend of returners and a robust pipeline — about 25 players on JV — to push internal competition. Captains Carlos Miranda and Daniel Ganda (both seniors) set the tone for a group Crespo describes in one word: “Intensity.” The growth agenda is clear: HOUSING AUTHORITY | FROM PAGE 10 changes and you need to make adjustments,” he said. Residents have warmed up to Hart as he walks around the Housing Authority properties. At Heritage Heights – where the Housing Authority administrative offices are based – some residents enjoying the weather outside wished him well on Monday. “I’m hoping that he does a fantastic job for this facility and the other facilities,” said Ellen Santosuosso, who has been a Housing Authority resident since 2013. “It’s been a while since we’ve had strong leadership here. Let’s see how he does,” she said. The Joseph A. Hart Resume “Tactical organization & playing in cohesion.” Expect training sessions to lean into structure — defensive shape, buildout patterns and set-piece roles — so that the team’s energy translates into consistent 80-minute performances. The schedule doesn’t offer many breathers. Within Saugus’s Northeastern Conference division, Swampscott “seems to be a strong side.” Beyond the division, Crespo has seen Beverly, Masco and Marblehead up close from previous stops and calls them “very strong programs.” Saugus doesn’t compete with that group for the divisional title, but they’re all on the slate — which should sharpen the Sachems for conference play and postseason math. Bottom line: The Sachems will try to pair senior leadership with a tighter tactical spine, letting that trademark intensity become a weekly advantage instead of occasional spark. Golf: deeper roster, steadier leadership Year two at the helm for Head Coach Daniel Bertrand (fifth overall in the program) comes with honest context and visible momentum. Last year’s squad finished 1–17, last in the conference. This year’s group is already different in one important way: Participation jumped up from around 10 to 20, giving Saugus enough numbers to field a “JV” team (the staff is still seeking (Following are highlights from application material submitted by Joseph A. Hart to The Saugus Housing Authority.) EXPERIENCE • Deputy Executive Director, Milford Housing Authority – August 2023–January 2025. Assisted Executive Director with management of medium housing authority with 271 state-aided public housing units, 65 federJV match opportunities). Bertrand’s captains bring experience and complementary games: · Hunter Arsenault (senior) — back for a second captaincy, “a great player” who’s improved off the tee and owns a consistent short game. The staff expects him to “score points for the team and win some matchups.” · Artie O’Leary (junior) — a steady hand and “great leadership,” historically strong off the tee and working hard on chipping and putting. The goal: “grind out some wins this year and collect some points.” Upper- class presence should help raise the floor. Nathan Soroko (senior) “brings a lot of character… and has improved tremendously.” John Morello (sophomore) cracked the lineup in the No. 2 slot for the opener and “showcased great shots and the ability to collect points against strong competition.” Trey Riley (junior), a transfer last year, has flashed “skills all around the golf course from tee to green” — the kind of reliable ball-striking that builds confidence inside the lineup. Volleyball: Veteran leaders push for a tournament return The Sachems enter 2025 with expectations set high. Head Coach Mikayla Niles has a compact but seasoned roster of 11 players, including seven seniors and a strong al public housing units and 556 Section 8 vouchers. Assisted with management of Mendon Housing Authority with 30 state units. Supervised 15 employees in program administration and maintenance. • Executive Director, Rockport Housing Authority – April 2022– January 2023. Managed a medium housing authority with 104 state-aided public housing units junior class, alongside one sophomore and one freshman. “Expectations are definitely on the higher end,” Niles said. “We do plan on going more than .500 or at least .500 this year to make tournament for sure.” With so many returning varsity players, this isn’t a rebuilding year. Still, the program does need to fill key roles after graduating both middles and a reliable outside hitter. The cushion is experience: “With so much veteran responsibility already on the court, it doesn’t really seem that way. Everyone’s confidence is very much up this year, ready to go,” Niles said. The seniors in particular have embraced their final campaign. “They came in like top dogs and they’ve definitely shown it,” Niles said. Captains Aly Mabee, Maria Silva and Mara Faiella will lead the way. The program’s depth continues to grow. About 55 athletes tried out across freshman, JV and varsity, giving Saugus one of its deepest volleyball pipelines in years. “It’s great to see all these kids want to come out and play volleyball,” Niles said. The combination of veteran leadership on varsity and a swelling feeder system at the lower levels has Niles optimistic: “We’re looking forward to definitely a very successful season with a lot of youth being built up from the freshman and JV program.” and 157 Section 8 vouchers. Supervised two administrative staff and two maintenance staff. Served as chief procurement officer and payroll and benefits coordinator. • Executive Director, Haverhill Housing Authority – FebruHOUSING AUTHORITY | SEE PAGE 12
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