After a frustrating week that included a loss to rival Groton-Dunstable, the Trojans were back on their game, with wins against Leominster and Douglas at home, bringing their record to 12–2–2.
Coach Tom Hill had repeatedly warned the team about its strongest opponent, Leominster, noting the lethal striking combination of midfielders Ignacio Cespedes and Mateus Santos. The Leominster team brought offensive punch and skill unrivaled by any opponents so far and difficult for the defense to contain. Leominster scored early on a hard shot to the corner, after a quick sequence of passing that left goalkeeper Caleb Frost alone with a Leominster striker. Santos nearly made it 2–0 after a bending loft from just outside the penalty area sailed high and wide. Despite a lack of offensive chances in the first half, Bromfield got a boost off the bench from junior Jon Alexander, who took the ball down the right side and made a cross that was taken by a center midfielder and hit into the low far corner to tie the game. Leominster came right back with strong midfield play by Cespedes freeing up outside midfielders. A chip to the outside by Cespedes freed the Leominster left midfielder who beat Frost with an unstoppable placement shot to the far post.
After some half-time instruction by Hill, the Trojans went into the second half playing like a different team. Gritty defensive play by the Trojans helped them gain control of the game. They tied the score when a Greg Wenger shot from outside was fumbled by the goalie, giving forward Josh Lyvers all he needed to put the ball away to make it 2–2. The game continued to be hard fought, with both teams battling for control of the midfield area. Finally, the deadlock was broken with less than 10 minutes to go, when a Bromfield center midfielder dribbled through the right side of Leominster’s defense and netted a short shot from the side to give the Trojans the lead for good.
“We had a solid second half and had great control out of the midfield, which led to a lot of scoring opportunities,” said Lyvers. “We played solid all around in the second half and fixed the errors we made in the first half.”
However, with time running out, Hill didn’t want to take any chances. Calling a timeout, Hill moved striker Lyvers back to play stopper and take deep throw-ins and goal kicks, leaving Wenger as a lone striker up top. The strategy proved successful, and the team held on for a 3–2 victory.
The Trojans hosted Douglas three days later, a contest that had all of the signs of a possible district final match-up. Bromfield has played Douglas the last two years in the districts, winning both times in close games. However, Douglas was unable to control the five-goal offensive onslaught brought on by the Trojans in the first half. A center midfielder started the scoring after taking a low Jon Alexander cross and placing a shot past the Douglas goalkeeper. Alexander then hit another waist-high cross that was volleyed into the corner by outside midfielder Greg Wenger. Minutes later, Osgood finished a cross off a half volley to widen the lead 3–0. The Trojans benefited from strong midfield play by Wenger, Brian Morgan, and senior Mike Girard, who replaced midfielder Ben Brown following an early ankle injury. Morgan added to the tally midway through the first half with a 30-yard knuckling shot that blew past the Douglas keeper. Stopper Scott Nussdorfer rounded out the first-half scoring, after controlling a ball in the air and sending a low volley into the corner, to make it 5–0.
The second half was more even, with Bromfield failing to continue the aggressive play it displayed in the first half. Talented striker Nic Prunier of Douglas made the Trojans pay, following a foul near the Bromfield penalty area. Prunier bent the ball around the wall and into the corner to make it 5–1. Although Lyvers managed to add one more off a Wenger cross later in the second half, the Trojans failed to add to the final score of 6–1.
“Our offense really brought their game today,” said Lyvers. “We finished almost all of our opportunities off some really great passes and crosses.”
