THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, OCTObEr 16, 2026 Page 9 SHS Sachems Sports Roundup: Sachems football battles through injuries; field hockey earns hard-fought tie with Marblehead By Dom Nicastro T he Saugus High School fall sports season continues to test the resilience of its athletes, with the football team navigating a depleted roster, the field hockey team battling to a scoreless tie against Marblehead and both soccer programs finding positives amid difficult stretches. As the regular season moves deeper into October, coaches are emphasizing improvement, commitment and the contributions of players stepping into larger roles. Football: Injuries force changes as Sachems prepare for Salem The Saugus football team has been hit hard by injuries, leaving first-year coach Greg Bluestein juggling positions and relying on younger players as the Sachems search for their first victory. Saugus fell to 0-6 following a 47-6 loss at Winthrop on Oct. 8. Paxton Ferraro scored the Sachems’ touchdown on a 3-yard run. The team’s biggest challenge has become keeping enough healthy players on the field. Bluestein said the available roster is approximately 20 players, forcing extensive two-way duty. Several players have taken on unfamiliar responsibilities. Freshman Leo Exantus has moved from receiver to offensive tackle, while Gabriel De Souza has stepped in at quarterback in place of Eli Fialho. Bluestein said three freshmen are seeing significant action on both sides of the ball, and other players have shifted into offensive line positions to help keep the team competitive. Despite the losses, Bluestein has been encouraged by the attitude of the players who continue to show up and compete. “Some of those kids left that (Winthrop) game saying they had a lot of fun. It was the most fun they had in a while, despite the score,” Bluestein said. The coach said the smaller group has developed a positive atmosphere despite the adversity. “The people that are left on the team are the people that want to be here and want to fight and want to play football. And when you get those kinds of people together, even if it’s just a small group, football is a really fun sport,” Bluestein said. Saugus hosts Salem on Friday, Oct. 16, at 6 p.m. at Serino Stadium. Bluestein described Salem (1-4, coming off 35-17 loss to Gloucester) as a fast, aggressive and well-coached opponent. He said the Sachems have finally had a full week to prepare with their reworked offense after having just two shortened weeks to implement changes. The emphasis will be on cleaner execution and continued improvement. Girls soccer: Sachems look toward Winthrop rematch The Saugus girls soccer team fell to 1-10-2 following a 5-0 loss to Swampscott on Oct. 13, but coach April Martinez continues to see signs of progress. Martinez said the Sachems are working on improving their passing, movement, transitions into the offensive third and ability to create scoring opportunities. “While we struggled to execute consistently, I continue to see improvement and better decision-making,” Martinez said. Maria Garcia and Alannah Duong were among the bright spots against Swampscott, providing stability in midfield and competing with intensity throughout the match. Martinez also praised the team’s captains and upperclassmen for maintaining a positive attitude through a challenging season. Saugus has recorded a 2-1 victory over Boston Latin AcadCapri Giardullo, Sofia McCarrier, Sydney Ferreira and goalie Jordyn Ripley-Deminski celebrate after the Sachems take the win over Malden, 8-0.(Advocate photo by Emily Harney) emy and ties against Winthrop and Gloucester. The Sachems host Winthrop on Saturday, Oct. 17, at 10 a.m., looking to build on their 3-3 tie against the Vikings earlier this season. Beverly visits Monday, Oct. 19, at 4:30 p.m. “Our goal this week is to work hard, stay positive, and come out Saturday ready to compete for a win,” Martinez said. Boys soccer: Senior-night effort produces scoreless tie The Saugus boys soccer team earned its second point of the season with a 0-0 tie against Essex Tech on Oct. 7, highlighting a strong defensive performance on senior night. Coach Josh Crespo described the contest as evenly matched, with both teams creating opportunities during an exciting final 10 minutes. Senior Antonio Flores delivered one of his strongest performances, while fellow senior Eduar Funez provided a steady presence along the back line. Junior goalkeeper Miles Davis made several important saves to preserve the shutout. The tie followed a 2-2 draw against Salem on Sept. 30, giving the Sachems points in two of their last five contests through Oct. 13. Saugus subsequently dropped a 2-0 decision to Swampscott on Oct. 13, bringing its record to 0-11-2. The Sachems travel to Beverly on Monday, Oct. 19, at 6 p.m., followed by a road matchup against Winthrop on Wednesday, Oct. 21, at 4:30 p.m. Field hockey: Sachems battle Marblehead to scoreless draw The Saugus field hockey team continued its competitive season with a 0-0 tie against Marblehead on Oct. 12, improving to 5-5-2. The result represented progress against a Marblehead team that defeated Saugus, 2-0, in their first meeting Sept. 24. Senior goalkeeper Jordyn Ripley Deminski made nine saves to preserve the shutout, while junior Adila Dzindo delivered a strong defensive performance. Junior Angelina Dow and freshman Hannah Strout also earned praise from coach Julie Champigny for their all-around contributions. The Sachems generated several scoring opportunities but could not break through against the Magicians. “Battled to a tie, a lot of chances but a good team fight,” Champigny said. The tie followed a 5-1 loss to Swampscott on Oct. 8, when Dow scored the Sachems’ lone goal. Saugus has enjoyed several impressive offensive performances this fall, including an 8-0 victory over Malden, two 6-0 wins against Everett and victories of 7-0 and 4-0 against Peabody. The Sachems were scheduled to host Wakefield on Wednesday, Oct. 14, before traveling to Beverly on Friday, Oct. 16, at 4:30 p.m. Danvers visits Serino Stadium on Tuesday, Oct. 20, at 7 p.m.
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