Varsity Field Hockey Defeated in Semis 2-0

The Big Blue girls spent much of the game in their circle defending against Manchester-Essex.

  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 game in the quarter-finals, 2-1, Nov. 3 at home against Bishop Fenwick. The semi-finals were played at North Andover High School. No. 2 …

• Photos (4)

OT Win Propels Field Hockey to Next Round

Tori Thistle slapped the ball to the left of the Fenwick goalie with 5:47 to go in sudden death overtime Saturday at Phillips Park.

  Overtime rules for high school field hockey mandate that each team place four fewer players on the field, running seven instead of the 11 who ran during regulation. In overtime, the first team to score wins. The running ended in Saturday's overtime tournament game between Swampscott, 12-2-2, and Bishop Fenwick, 8-7-3, at Phillips Park after junior Tori Thistle knocked the ball to the right of the goalie and into the box. "It just went in at the corner," said Tori after the game. "It almost hit the post." The goal came after almost 10 minutes of exhausting back-and-forth play, the teams trading runs at each others end. The goal sparked jubilation on the Big Blue side and deflated the hopes of No. 11 seed Fenwick, which had been playing …

• Photos (26)

Whiz Kid

Whiz Kid: Alexa Steriti

Swampscott High junior Alrexa Steriti suffered an injury that decreased her playing time, but gave her lots more time to help others.

  Sixteen-year-old Alexa Steriti was a field hockey All-Star last season, bouncing back from a serious knee injury, but she’s making her marks off the field with her work helping other students and other people in her community. Steriti, a junior, will turn 17 next May, and helped the Big Blue to a good season last fall, making the post-season high school tournament. Steriti used to play softball and basketball, but suffered a serious injury to her left knee, damaging the ACL and tearing the meniscus. Steriti is a member of Best Buddies and the MVP’s, Mentors for Violence Prevention at SHS. “I went to a Best Buddies dance last year an was really impressed with what they do, I’ve been involved with their shopping trips, their pizza parties …

• Photos (2)

Big Blue Sports

Blue Field Hockey in Tournament Rematch Today

The Big Blue crew has a rematch from last year's tourney. Today they square up against Manchester Essex Regional High School at 2:30 pm at Phillips Park.

Last year the Swampscott field hockey team entered the tournament as the last seed and lost their first game to top-seeded Manchester Essex Regional High School. Today the Blue enjoy home field advantage. They earned the No. 5 seed, ending their season at 12-3-3. Manchester Essex comes into town as the 12 seed. Nonetheless, Swampscott Coach Toby Channen says seeds are just numbers. "In the tournament anything can happen," she said. The coach feels good about her team. They are healthy and will take to their Phillips Park field at 2:30 playing better than ever. Changes since the start of the season include a new goalie, Katie Samiljan. The team is more experienced and ready for the playoffs. If they win they move to the next round on Friday…

• Photos (5)

College Watch

High School Teammates Then College Opponents Now

College field hockey players Kristin Santanello and Stephanie Lannon played this week at Salem State.

Kristin Santanello and Stephanie Lannon were teammates on the field hockey team at Swampscott High School. But now they play in college. Kristin plays field hockey for the Salem State University Vikings. Stephanie plays for the Bridgewater State Bears. They faced off this week in Salem, and the Vikings came out on the short end dropping a 4-2 decision to Bridgewater. Santanello had a goal and an assist for the Vikings and Lannon, who is a captain, played solid at midfield for the 11-5 tournament bound Bears.

• Photos (1)

Photo Gallery: Field Hockey Blanks Malden 6-0

Senior captain Georgia Polemenakos scored the first goal of her high school career.

At home, Thursday, on their Phillips Park turf, the Big Blue field hockey team beat Malden, 6-0.

• Photos (19)

Photo Gallery: Swampscott Field Hockey Loses to Powerful Panthers

Swampscott field hockey lost their home opener Wednesday at Phillips Park against a strong Beverly team, 3-0.

Swampscott field hockey lost their home opener Wednesday at Phillips Park against a strong Beverly team, 3-0. Swampscott's record is now even at 1-1.

• Photos (16)

Big Blue Sports

Experienced Field Hockey Players Open Season Today

The veteran Blue team plays against Peabody at Phillips Park. Coach Toby Channen lost just three players to graduation.

Two seniors, a center halfback and a goalie, will captain the Big Blue field hockey team as they sail into the 2011 season. Center-half Georgia Polemenakos and goalie Nicki Gioiosa will lead a group that enjoys speed and togetherness. The speed is born of athleticism, Coach Toby Channen says. The tightness is born of playing together for a long time, she says. The team lost only three players to graduation. The girls are close on the field and off the field, Channen says. Wednesday night they sat down for their weekly team meal — Chinese take-out — at a player's home. Today they will run the field together and try to knock in goals against Peabody High School. Last year the team wound up 8-7-3, said Channen, now in her fourth season …

• Photos (1)