Sam Leahy challenges Bryan Molinaro and Andrew Jorgensen. (Photos by Rob Williams)
Krystal Warren and Andrew Tracey vie for control
When you think about Bromfield Girls Field Hockey that went 11-4-4 this past season, it’s doubtful you associate the program with 8-0 losses. When you think about Bromfield Boys Soccer (18-1-2), you don’t think about their field hockey skills. However, last Friday the two varsity teams met for one final game to finish off their seasons. The boys triumphed in the friendly game that had as much trash talking as mud throwing.
The game began with a barrage of offensive attacks from the soccer players; most using field hockey sticks for the first time. After a few shots wide of the net, Ben Brown rocketed the ball off a pass from Josh Lyvers for a goal. The boys were then awarded two corners in their offensive end. The field hockey players held strong as Krystal Warren and Catherine Jones each cleared the ball out of the dangerous area.
Soon the boys were back again scoring a quick succession of goals. Drew Tracey, assisted by Charlie Watkins, put the soccer team up 2 to nothing. Watkins then scored a goal of his own on a follow-up shot after a spectacular save from field hockey defender Lindsey Tonge. Watkins’ scrappy play allowed him to assist with goals by Will Schwarz and Bryan Molinaro. After some offensive opportunities by the field hockey forwards Sam Leahy and Francesca Minervini, Watkins scored again with the assist from Keeon Tabrizi.
The power soon shifted to the girls. Captain Derrin Jarvis worked the ball downfield through the puddles and mud—only to be stopped multiple times by defender AJ Jorgensen. Frustrated by their lack of defense, the soccer players turned to throwing mud at each other and their opponents. Soon Mike Girard passed to Tracey, who scored the seventh goal of the game for the boys. Lyvers then scored the final goal on a long breakaway run, reminiscent of his many spectacular goals on the soccer pitch.
This Bromfield tradition was played this year, back from a two-season absence. Jarvis commented, “I’ve been on varsity for three years and we’ve never done it. [The game] is something we really wanted to play.” Tabrizi noted, “It’s a good tradition that gets teammates together even though the season is over.”
Tracey said the conditions were terrible and that he “enjoyed hitting Lyvers with mud the most.” Jarvis exclaimed that the girls wanted a rematch but Jones disagreed, “We beat them in looks and that’s what’s important.”
Looking back, the score is irrelevant; the significance is the restored rivalry and tradition.
