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Health & Fitness

SWAMPSCOTT BLUE LIGHTNING DEFEATS ANDOVER TO REMAIN UNBEATEN !!!

Swampscott Blue Lightning continues its undefeated season and its march to the season-ending Pingree championship tournament!

Blue Lightning, the Swampscott travel soccer team, hosted Andover on Saturday, May 18, at Swampscott High School in an important game matching the only two undefeated teams in the highly competitive girls' U-14 league.

Though perennial powerhouse Andover had not lost a game in several years, and will certainly be a formidable foe in the season-ending championship tournament held at Pingree, on this day, Swampscott met the challenge and emerged victorious, 1-0. 

Swampscott now stands at 6-0, alone atop the Essex Youth Soccer Association U-14 girls' standings.  With only two games remaining, Blue Lightning is well on its way to meeting its pre-season goal of qualifying for Pingree!

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This Blue Lightning victory validated the old adage, "offense wins games but defense wins championships"! Anchored by Anna Hunt, Jessica Gambale, Megan Marocco, Emily Guo, and Annie Norton, Swampscott held Andover scoreless for the first time in four years, which is also the last time that Andover had even lost a game.

Swampscott goalkeeper Olivia Cooke turned back shot after shot, demonstrating the same high level of athleticism she also exhibits on the basketball court and the softball diamond, when not playing soccer.  Cooke's punts consistently drove Andover back past midfield, providing her teammates with the opportunity to ignite their offensive attack.  

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Though neither of the Blue Lightning offensive tandem of Meghan Hartmann and Sarah Hingston scored for the first time this season, they continued to pressure the Andover defense throughout the game. Forwards Sara Martin and Alayna O'Keefe similarly helped keep the ball on the offensive side of the field for Swampscott for much of the game. 

Blue Lightning midfielders Emma Wright, Rebecca Cerra, Kendall Rhodes, and Ali Sloan played their typically aggressive, intelligent game, making sure to support the defense, while also initiating offensive attacks of their own.

After Rebecca Cerra was tackled by an Andover player midway through the second half, it was Blue Lightning center midfielder Sloan who scored the game-winner during the second half, a well-executed direct kick which soared above the defenders and just out of the Andover goalkeeper's reach. Known more for her defensive play than for her offense, Sloan responded to the pressure of the moment to score what may prove to be the most important goal of the season for Swampscott. 

With this BIG win, Blue Lightning appears to be headed to the post-season!  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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