Page 12 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, SEpTEmbEr 26, 2025 ~ Saugus Fall Sports roundup: Field hockey breakthrough, golf battles, volleyball’s hot start ~ By Dom Nicastro T he Sachems continued their September schedule with a mix of wins, near misses and valuable learning experiences across multiple programs. FIELD HOCKEY: BALANCED EFFORT DELIVERS A 3-1 WIN Head coach Julie Champigny’s squad earned a 3-1 victory over Everett, showing grit on both ends of the field. Julia Strout opened the scoring in the first quarter, followed by Angelina Dow’s third quarter strike off a penalty corner. Teaghan Arsenault sealed the win in the final quarter, cashing in during a corner breakdown. On the defensive end, Adila Dzindo shut down Everett’s breaks, while Anna Enwright came up with timely clears. In net, Jordyn Ripley-Deminski made three saves and “keeps showing up in net well,” according to Champigny. Dow continued to set the tone in the midfield. “She keeps being a leader on the field bringing the ball up through the midfield and creating plays continuously,” Champigny said. Newcomer Mia Ward, who transitioned from lacrosse, impressed on defense with several key stops. GOLF: LEARNING MOMENTS AGAINST TOUGH NEC COMPETITION The golf team played three matches last week, dropping contests to Lynn English, Northeast Metro Tech and Beverly but continuing to develop its younger core. Against Lynn English, Nathan Soroko (senior) notched his first win of the season, 5.5-3.5, while eighth grader Gavin Diozzie also claimed his matchup, 5-4. The Sachems nearly pulled out a win in a rematch with Northeast Metro Tech, falling just short 38-34. Trey Riley won in the top spot, 5-4, senior captain Hunter Arsenault secured a 6-3 win in the four slot, and eighth grader Devin Voong picked up his first career victory 5-4 in the eighth spot. The week ended with a difficult trip to Beverly, where the Sachems lost 56.515.5. Still, the young lineup gained valuable experience with juniors, sophomores, freshmen and even seventh graders stepping up against one of the league’s best teams. again in the second half to make it 3-2. Senior goalkeeper Peyton DiBiasio exited with an injury in the first half, forcing Lauren Mudafort to step in. She delivered several big saves to keep Saugus close. “I am so proud of how my girls played,” Martinez said. “The girls matched Marblehead’s intensity. It was a very physical game. We continue to improve each game.” GIRLS VOLLEYBALL: SACHEMS PUSH TO 4-2 DESPITE INJURY SETBACK The Saugus girls volleyball team is off to a strong 4-2 start, already ahead of last year’s pace, and doing it despite losing senior captain and top setter Ally Mabee to an ankle injury that will sideline her for three weeks. The Sachems responded with Aly Mabee, out injured for three weeks with an ankle sprain, and Megan Xavier guard the net during their recent win against Wilmington.(Advocate file photos) back-to-back wins, including a statement sweep over rival Everett that broke the Tide’s three-year win streak against Saugus. “It’s crazy, too, because my senior captain Ally Mabee went down the game before Everett,” coach Mikayla Niles said. “Just the way they came together and bounced back was crazy.” Junior Aiyana Cruz stepped up as emergency setter in the Everett match, running the offense with poise and confidence. “You control the whole court. Beatrice Rodrigues with the ball for the Sachems. BOYS SOCCER: SHUT OUT BY SALEM AND MARBLEHEAD The boys soccer team dropped two straight Northeastern Conference matches. Saugus lost 1-0 at home to Salem before traveling to Marblehead and falling 3-0. Head coach Joshua Crespo said earlier this month that defensive improvement has been a focus, and while the early schedule has been tough, he’s seen progress from preseason to now. GIRLS SOCCER: RESILIENCE IN 3-2 LOSS TO MARBLEHEAD Head coach April Martinez ’s squad pushed a strong Marblehead team to the limit before falling 3-2. Saugus struck first when Shalyn Sewell sent a ball across the box to freshman Sarah Mudafort, who finished for her first varsity goal. Marblehead responded with three unanswered goals, but Sewell struck It’s kind of like the quarterback of the football team,” Niles said. “She stepped right up and did her job and more.” Captains Maria Silva and Mara Faiella also made their presence felt. Silva anchored the back row with a steady passing game, while Faiella dominated at the net with more than a dozen kills. Freshman Ava Foley, who has quickly adapted to a new role at middle, continued to shine as a promising young contributor. Niles’ team will have to get at least 10 wins to secure a state tournament berth, and with seven seniors providing leadership, the Sachems are confident they can get there. “We’re chasing 10,” she said. “Hopefully we can at least get three or four over the next couple of weeks and only be chasing a couple for the rest of the season.”
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