Senior Greg Wenger was key to the Trojan win, scoring two goals. (Photos by Lisa Aciukewicz)
The Bromfield boys soccer team won its third state championship in four years, defeating the Hamilton-Wenham Generals 4–2 at Cawley Memorial Stadium in Lowell Saturday, Nov. 22.
The victory put coach Tom Hill’s incredible career win total over the 500 mark, with 17 district titles and now eight state championships.
Although the final result might suggest a commanding win for the Trojans, the game started exactly the wrong way for the boys in blue. Bromfield controlled play early in the first half, but it was the Generals who struck first. Seizing on a rare defensive mistake, Joe Savasta stole the ball and muscled it through the defense, placing a shot to the far post past senior goalkeeper Caleb Frost. The goal came as a shock to Bromfield, which had virtually dominated possession in the first 15 minutes.
The Trojan response, however, was swift. Clutch junior goal-scorer and all-state performer Cody Osgood was ready to answer the call to respond. Osgood sent a horizontal cross to Greg Wenger, who ripped a hard shot just over the goal. Seconds later, Osgood received a cross from center midfielder Sam Peisch, rose above the Hamilton-Wenham defense, and placed a header into the corner to tie the game at 1–1. A few series later, Bromfield again had the ball on the right side of midfield. Taking a slotted ball through, Wenger dribbled through the Generals’ defense and unleashed a lethal crank into the corner to give the Trojans the lead. Just 102 seconds after being scored upon, Bromfield had regained the lead in emphatic fashion. The blues finished the dying minutes of the first half in control of the game and making offensive pushes into the Hamilton-Wenham defense.
In the second half both teams fought hard for possession in the center of the field, as a strong wind presented difficulties for both sides. Bromfield eventually began to gain momentum. After playing the ball out of bounds for the Trojans, Bromfield’s throw-in artist Derek Silver whipped in a curving loft perfectly in front of a running Osgood, who calmly placed a shot in the low corner to give Bromfield a decisive and insurmountable 3–1 lead. Minutes later, Wenger struck again. Taking a lead pass wide from Osgood, the senior captain raced down the sidelines and ripped a low shot from a seemingly impossible angle that nicked the inside of the far post to make it 4–1. Hamilton-Wenham got one back in consolation from a free kick in front of the Bromfield net, rounding out the final score at 4–2.
Minutes later, the final whistle blew on the Trojans’ undefeated season. The Bromfield side of the field was laced with blue and white as devoted Bromfield fans, parents, alumni, and past players stormed the field in jubilant celebration.
“It was a great way to end a great season,” said senior captain Scott Nussdorfer. “We played a solid team game and everybody played well.”
