The Swampscott High School girls lacrosse team wasted little time lighting up the scoreboard on Monday, rolling to a 17-4 win over Gloucester High School.
The Big Blue tallied their first goal after just 84 seconds of play. They then scored again 21 seconds later. Then again, 30 seconds later.
By the time the horn sounded signaling the end of the first quarter, Swampscott already led 9-0. This strong scoring surge allowed the Big Blue to coast to victory, while working on some of their offensive and defensive systems and ensuring every player got a fair share of playing time.
The win is the fourth in a row for the team after losing to Bishop Fenwick High School 7-6 in the season opener. The Big Blue have scored at least 14 goals in every game of the ongoing winning streak. Their opponents haven’t yet reached ten goals in any game.
After a slow start, Head Coach Al Eaton says the team’s offense has started to click.
“We’ve been working so hard to try and get it going,” said Eaton. “At the beginning of the season, it wasn’t going right. We’ve finally found our identity and the system is working as we’ve drawn it up.”
In the first half of Monday’s game, the Big Blue won the face off, raced down the field toward Gloucester’s net, passed the ball around to find an open player and then score. When teams retreated to their benches for the halftime break, the scoreboard read 14-1.
Eaton said winning faceoffs and maintaining possession of the ball is imperative to success.
“It’s critical,” he said. “If you don’t have the ball, you can’t score and you can’t win.
Possession evened out in the second half, but the Big Blue worked hard to keep Gloucester from scoring many goals. When Swampscott was in the defensive end, spectators could hear the team talking with one another to ensure Gloucester players were all accounted for.
“They’re a good, tight group and they communicate extremely well,” said Eaton. “It’s all coming together.”
Eaton believes it’s important for the coaching staff and team to keep their focus set on the next game.
“Sure, we’d like to win the state championship, but you have to just win the next one, and that’s how we look at it,” he said.
The next one for the Big Blue will be on Wednesday when the team will take the short trip to Salem High School for a Northeast Conference matchup, looking to extend the winning streak to five games.
“They are all working for the team rather for themselves as individuals,” said Eaton. “That’s such an important thing in a team sport. You’re part of something bigger than yourself and as soon as you recognize that, then a team succeeds.”
