SWAMPSCOTT BLUE LIGHTNING #1 IN ESSEX COUNTY GIRLS' U-14 YOUTH SOCCER !

Swampscott Blue Lightning continued in its quest for an Essex County Youth Soccer Association championship title in the U-14 girls’ “A” division by beating North Andover by a score of 3-1 on Saturday, June 2. 

Blue Lightning has now secured the top spot in the championship tournament to be held this month at Pingree, with only its final game against Rockport this coming Saturday, June 9, standing in the way of an undefeated regular
season.  

Scoring for Blue Lightning was the dynamic offensive tandem of Meghan Hartmann and Sarah Hingston.  Hingston was also credited with an assist on Hartmann’s goal to open the scoring for Swampscott. Midfielder Megan Marocco assisted on one of Hingston’s two goals for the day on a beautiful pass that
set the speedster up for her scoring strike. Hartmann and Hingston have emerged as potent offensive weapons for the Blue Lightning throughout this spectacular season, just as forwards Sara Martin and Alayna O’Keefe have continued to develop their offensive skills, combining to send Swampscott into its final game of the regular season with a perfect record.

The hallmark this Eve Gambale-coached team has been its defense, however, as
Swampscott held its opponent to just a single goal in the entire game. The
backbone of this tough, aggressive team defense is the consistent, intelligent
play of Jessica Gambale, Anna Hunt, Annie Norton and Emily Guo. Midfielders Emma Wright, Rebecca Cerra, Olivia Cooke and Marocco worked hard throughout the game, as they have throughout the season, to support the defense and ignite the offense, creating a strong, balanced attack. Goaltender Kendall Rhodes once again turned in a solid performance to notch the Blue Lightning victory. 

Blue Lightning ends its regular season on Saturday, June 9, at 3PM at Swampscott High School before heading to Pingree as the top seed in the season-ending championship tournament.