Swampscott Blue Lightning Soccer Storms Danvers 6-2

This article was submitted by Phil Sloan.

Blue Lightning, the U-14 girls’ travel soccer team, defeated the Danvers Tornados at Thorpe Field in Danvers on Saturday, April 21, by balancing their potent offensive attack with solid, aggressive defense.

Swampscott speedster Sarah Hingston opened the scoring early in the game, then followed up later with another goal on a breakaway in which she simply ran past the entire Danvers defense before beating the goalkeeper with a well-placed shot to the corner.  Hingston added an assist in the second half on a selfless pass back to Blue Lightning leading scorer, Meghan Hartmann, who notched her fourth and fifth goals of this young season.  

Rounding out the scoring for the Blue Lightning was Megan Marocco, who scored twice, once on a long assist by defensive standout Anna Hunt. Anna played fearlessly throughout the game without the support of Jessica Gambale, who was forced to sit out this game due to a concussion suffered during the previous week. Marocco scored her second goal on a scorching shot through the leaping goalkeeper’s hands late in the game.

Rising to the occasion in Gambale’s absence were Emily Guo and Alayna O’Keefe, who consistently stifled the Danvers offense from mounting their attack. Kendall Rhodes made numerous saves as goalkeeper to preserve the Blue Lightning victory, nearly scoring a goal of her own on offense during the second half. Olivia Cooke played her typically versatile, athletic game at goalkeeper and at midfield, where Emma Wright, Rebecca Cerra, and Ali Sloan dominated play in the center of the field.

Though their names may not appear often in the scorebook at the end of the game, Annie Norton and Sarah Martin play integral roles on this Blue Lightning team, which prides itself on its aggressive, yet clean, skillful style of play.

Norton and Martin, like their Swampscott teammates, play every minute that they are on the field as if it is their last. Every player on the Blue Lightning roster possesses this same, rare quality, which is the hallmark of every championship team.      

Demonstrating remarkable balance between their offensive firepower and their defensive grit and determination, Blue Lightning appears headed in the right direction — a trip to Pingree for the season-ending championship tournament.