Varsity Field Hockey Defeated in Semis 2-0

The Big Blue girls field hockey team's tournament run ended and with it their season Saturday when nemesis Manchester-Essex won the semi-final match-up 2-0.

The opposition kept the ball in Swampscott's circle for much of the game, pressuring the defense with more than 20 penalty corners.

"That's an astronomical number," coach Toby Channen said.

Big Blue goalie Katie Samiljan made 10 saves and played terrific, the coach said.

The No. 3 seed Big Blue, 12-3-2, played hard to the very end and took the loss with class, the coach said.

The team demonstrated the same quality when they won their thrilling OT , Nov. 3 at home against Bishop Fenwick.

The semi-finals were played at North Andover High School.

No. 2 seed Manchester-Essex, 17-1-1, now moves to the North Div. 2 sectional finals against No. 1 seed Watertown, at North Andover High School on Monday.

Watertown defeated Winchester 2-1 in the other semi-final game.

The Big Blue coach said she will lose five seniors to graduation, and at least two of them — Alexa Steriti and Lisa Vu — are interested in playing collegiate field hockey. 

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