PEABODY — Swampscott may have trailed after each of the first three quarters, but saved its best for last, coming from behind to defeat Peabody 14-12 Thursday at Blocksidge Field.

Trailing 9-7 with 12 minutes to play, the Big Blue exploded for seven goals, holding Peabody (8-4) to just three to improve to 9-2.

Bridget Urbano had been kept in check for three quarters by a stingy Tanners’ defense, but was unstoppable in the final frame, tallying four goals, including the final two in the last 2 ½ minutes to break a 12-12 tie. With Peabody threatening to close the deficit, the Big Blue’s Amelia Hart made the defensive play of the game, causing a turnover with about a minute left to seal the win.

“We got into an early hole in the first quarter, trailing 4-1, but they didn’t quit,” said Swampscott coach Al Eaton. “They just kept digging and clawing and got back into the game. They just hung in there. Coming back and staying with them the whole time, we just finally started getting some flow.”

Swampscott wasted no time getting back in the game, scoring three goals in the span of 90 seconds to take a 10-9 lead. Quinn Kelleher (4 goals) got things started with a pretty spin-a-rama 25 seconds in. About a minute later, Urbano scored on a free-position shot. Reagan Pelletier won the ensuing draw and fed Kelleher to put the Big Blue on top 10-9 with 10:24 to go.

Peabody’s Leah Bresnahan responded with a free-position shot at the 8:42 mark to knot the game 10-10. The teams traded a pair of goals to knot the game at 12-12 with 4:26 to go and set the stage for Urbano and Hart to close things out.

Swampscott’s Bridget Maloney and Cecelia Tripp finished with two goals apiece. Pelletier and Nola Conley split draws for the Big Blue.

“They were a nice little tandem today,” Eaton said. “Each was drawing to the other to get us the ball.”

Eaton and Peabody coach Jess Upton agreed that both goalies — Swampscott’s Lilah Caplan and Peabody’s Eleni Spack — played well.

“Lights out by both goalies,” Upton said. 

“They both had good days,” Eaton said. “It took us some time to figure out how to crack through. The hardest thing, as a goalie, is when the ball moves around so much and changes location. Our goals, at the end, were all assisted, so that makes it harder for the goalie.”

“Arianna Alvarado (goal, assist) is fast, she’s strong, and her stick skills are amazing. I thought Victoria Vaz (5 goals) was great and I have Sophia (Galbiati) on the draw, who is a phenomenal draw-taker. Defensively, Sydney (Zizza) and Leah (Ruffing) played very well.”

Leah Bresnahan (4 goals), Galbiati (2 goals, assist, 7 ground balls) also scored for Peabody.

Eaton praised the play of the Tanners.

“Peabody challenged us in every respect,” he said. “Their clears were outstanding. For a man defense, it was really hard to break through. When we saw a lane, they closed it. 

Peabody’s next game is Monday in Marblehead at 4 p.m.

“We need one more win to make the tournament, so we just have to keep pushing in these hard games,” Upton said. “We have to make sure we push through the fourth quarter and not let it go like today.”

Swampscott also returns Monday, but in Salem at 4:30 p.m.

“These guys (Tanners) have been circled on my calendar, but we’ve played Salem before (15-3 win),” Eaton said. “Their coaching staff has done a really nice job with them and they have a challenging defense, so we need to be ready to play.”