The Bromfield Varsity soccer team defeated the Tyngsborough Tigers last Wednesday, Sept. 28, with a close 2-1 victory. The Trojans, with their 6-0 record, are now in sole possession of first place in their league.
Bromfield assembled a total of 19 shots on net, while Tyngsborough trailed with a total of 14. Bromfield’s powerful defense managed to block out most of the opportunities made by the aggressive Tigers.
In just 6 minutes, 31 seconds, Bromfield gained the lead against its opponents. Sophomore left-midfielder Paul Malloy dribbled the ball right inside the 18-yard box, and took a shot through an open pocket in Tyngsborough’s defense. The Tigers’ keeper Andy Savard pounced forward, deflecting the ball off his shoulder, allowing junior striker Dylan Osgood to quickly kick the ball into the net.
After Bromfield’s early 1-0 lead, Tyngsborough showed signs of aggression, consequently receiving a yellow card.
“There was unnecessary kicking and tripping involved,” said Bromfield coach Tom Hill. “It was a dirty game.”
Both teams approached the second half with bursts of energy, determined to hold on to their undefeated records. About 4½ minutes into the second half, Tyngsborough’s midfielder Austin Boisvert brought his team a 1-1 tie, with a header that slipped past sophomore keeper Ryan Kennedy.
Six minutes later, Malloy crossed the ball in from the left side of the field, leaving senior center-midfielder Brenton Stoddart a perfect opportunity to head the ball into the net. Savard barely missed the ball, bringing Bromfield up to a 2-1 lead.
“It was all in the pass,” Stoddart said.
Bromfield instantly moved into a more defensive strategy, as their lead put them securely ahead of their opponents. Bromfield’s skilled senior sweeper Brian McCullough brought the ball into Bromfield possession every time the Tigers attempted to score.
“It was a better game than most,” Hill said. “There were some bad finishes, and we should’ve had more goals, but we had overall good defense, and good composure. It was Tyngsborough’s first loss, which puts us first in the league right now.”
