Halfback Ben L’Ecuyer runs the ball upfield. (Photos by Lisa Aciukewicz)
Junior Ezra Kraus winds up for a bicycle kick.
In the face of a difficult schedule, the loss of 13 varsity players, and a legacy of excellence on the line, the Bromfield boys varsity soccer players are counting on teamwork to carry them through the season.
Last year the Trojans dominated the field with a 16-3-1 record and went as far as the district semi-finals.
Some of the reasons for the team’s strong performance last season were a coach with over 30 years of experience, a swift defense, and the one-in-a-million All-State sweeper, Brian McCullough.
Although the coach remains highly involved this year, all four starting fullbacks and McCullough have graduated, leaving the entire defense wide open for restructuring.
“I’m going to give it to you straight,” said coach Thomas Hill. “We have a lot less seniors. We’ve lost 12 to graduation, and [junior] Paul Malloy changed schools. We’ve only got four seniors this year to cover the loss.”
With such a significant setback, many gaping holes must be filled by Bromfield’s younger varsity players.
Halfback Matt Olejarz heads the ball.
“We need to fill one forward spot, the stopper spot, the outside fullback spot,” Hill said. “We have a lot of versatile players, like [sophomore] Matt Olejarz, who can play stopper and sweeper, but we don’t have any like Brian McCullough, who was a superstar at his one position.”
To exacerbate the situation, the schedule is far from favorable.
“This year, we have one of the most challenging schedules we’ve ever had,” said Hill. “We’ve got [to play] Groton, and they were Division Two champions last year. They are just as good this year. Tyngsboro has almost their entire team back…Sutton was the Division Three champions, and they’ve got almost everybody back as well.”
Despite the challenges, the team is coming together in the face of adversity, Hill said.
“The team dynamic is way better this year,” he said. “There is no ball hogging…These people are willing to give the ball up a little better.”
Furthermore, the lack of “really top notch McCullough-like players” allowed as many as 20 Bromfield athletes to participate in the first game of the season against Littleton.
“Our depth this year gives more people time in the game,” said Hill.
After a very weak first half against Littleton, the Trojans drove three goals into the net in the second half for a 3-1 victory.
Senior forward Dylan Osgood gets the ball past goalkeeper David Tornell for one of two goals he would score in Bromfield’s 3-1 victory over Littleton in the season opener.
