Page 14 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, OCTObEr 31, 2025 postseason drought, Sewell hits 100, volleyball makes tourney Sachems Fall Sports Roundup: Field hockey ends By Dom Nicastro I t was a historic fall week for Saugus athletics. The field hockey team returned to the postseason for the first time since 2016, girls soccer celebrated a 100-point milestone and volleyball and soccer squads kept battling to the end of the regular season. In her first season as head coach, Julie Champigny guided Saugus field hockey to its first postseason appearance in nearly a decade — a remarkable turnaround for a small, young roster that finished 9-9 after going 5-12-1 last fall. Champigny, who spent the past two years coaching Saugus’ JV squad, took over from longtime head coach Barbara Guarente and immediately set out to reenergize the program. With only 18 players — including three seventh graders — the team competed as a varsity-only squad, often relying on sheer stamina and cohesion to stay competitive in the rugged Northeastern Conference. “I’m just so proud of this group,” Champigny said. “We had players who never came off the field, and their effort and resilience were incredible.” The Sachems found their rhythm after a key 1-0 win over Danvers, a game Champigny called “pivotal for our season.” Sophomore Julia Strout scored the game-winner off a corner from Teaghan Arsenault, while junior goalie Jordyn Ripley-DeBOARD OF SELECTMEN | FROM PAGE 11 us preserve our small-town character while keeping our services strong and maintaining consistency in local government. Sandro Pansini Souza, former candidate for Selectman: 1) Charter Review Committee: Yes. 2) Staggered Terms for Selectmen and School Committee: No. 3) Public Safety Saugus field hockey captains and coach, left to right, Jordyn Ripley-Deminski, Sydney Ferreira, Coach Julie Champigny, Audrey Comeau and Anna Enwright. minski anchored the shutout with multiple clutch saves. “That was the moment our leadership and intensity shifted,” Champigny said. “The upperclassmen stepped up, and the whole tone of the team changed.” A midseason tactical change from a 3-2-3-2 formation to a 3-3-3-1 lineup proved equally transformative. Angelina Dow moved from defense to center midfield, and Sydney Ferreira transitioned into a central defensive role — adjustments that balanced Saugus’ structure and unleashed more consistent play on both ends. “The flexibility and buy-in from the players made the difference,” Champigny said. Committee: Yes. If I could make one change to improve how Saugus operates, it would be to establish a permanent system of collaboration and accountability between Town departments, boards, and residents. Too often, communication breaks down between our committees, and decisions are made in isolation rather than in coordination. For example, the School Committee, Select“Once we made those switches, people were in roles where they became unstoppable.” The team’s four captains — seniors Anna Enwright and Audrey Comeau, and juniors Ferreira and Ripley-Deminski — guided a roster filled with freshmen and sophomores who quickly rose to the varsity challenge. “I inherited four captains, and they had a lot on their plate with such a young team,” Champigny said. “They became true leaders — positive, vocal and determined to bring the team together.” Champigny credits her players’ resilience and a strong sophomore class, including Strout, Arsenault and Sofia Mcmen, and Finance Committee may each be working hard— but not always in the same direction. The result is frustration, duplication, and delays in solving the very issues residents care about most: safety, infrastructure, schools, and taxes. My proposal would be to create an “Open Coordination Council”—a quarterly public meeting that brings together representatives from evCarrier, for the program’s upward trajectory. The team is also taking steps toward long-term growth — including plans for a Saugus Youth Field Hockey League, a crucial addition given that Saugus is one of the few NEC programs without a feeder system. “You can see how programs with pipelines thrive. For us to make the tournament this year without that base — that’s special.” Ripley-Deminski is the team’s seasoned goaltender. She made countless saves and is a leader in the circle and has made some “elite saves defending the goal during corners.” ery central town body, department heads, and citizen groups to discuss priorities, identify overlaps, and issue a short action summary for public view. This is not another layer of government, but a mechanism for transparency, teamwork, and trust—a way to keep everyone at the same table, focused on results. This same approach can benefit our schools. Collaboration between educators, parSaugus finished the regular season with three out of four wins, including a 3-0 victory over Everett behind two goals from Dow and one from Ferreira, a 1-0 win over Danvers and 7-0 wins over Northeast Voke and Malden. Saugus soccer team finishes regular season strong On the soccer fields, it was also a big week for milestones. The Saugus girls soccer team tied Division 2 Billerica, 1-1, to close the regular season, with Shalyn Sewell scoring the goal and her sister Shawn providing the assist for her 100th career point. Maria Garcia and Lauren Mudafort anchored a strong defensive showing, and senior goalie Peyton DiBiasio made several key saves. The team was awaiting its playoff fate as of press time. Volleyball makes tourney in final week The Saugus volleyball team “We’re so excited about the won its final few matches to Youth League,” Champigny said. get into the tourney with a 1010 record. The Sachems earned the No. 39 seed out of 41 teams in Division 3 and will face familiar foe No. 26 Swampscott on the road. Time and date were TBD as of press time. This is the second straight season the Sachems made the postseason under coach Mikayla Niles, who took the varsity post starting last year. ents, and town officials must go beyond budget season. Regular, shared planning will help us direct resources where they truly make a difference for students and teachers, not just where the loudest voices push. Saugus deserves leadership that listens, coordinates, and acts—not just talks. Together, we can build a local government that reflects the best of who we are: transparent, united, and forward-looking.
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