Defender Deirdre Kennedy prepares to clear the ball. (Photo by Lisa Aciukewicz)
Back at Harvard Park for a rematch against Littleton after their earlier game, the Bromfield varsity girls were looking for redemption as they took the soccer field on Oct. 9. As the game got under way, defenses for each team were locked in at the start, stopping breakaways from their opponents and keeping the ball away from the net. Goalie Meghanne Fitzsimmons, who had been injured in the last game against Littleton, made a superb effort in the first half with terrific blocks and saves. Her counterpart from Littleton, Julia Pitino, had a solid start as well, but that changed as the game unfolded and the Bromfield offense came through.
Rylee Osgood started the scoring with an opening goal on an assist from Soph Turchetta, giving Bromfield a 1-0 lead as the first half reached its quarter mark. A short while later, Osgood and Turchetta switched places as Turchetta scored her first goal of the day, with an assist from her teammate. Hannah Wharton gave Turchetta a chance to score yet again with a rocket kick headed her way, but it was stolen before Turchetta could make a play.
Sarah Doben also wanted in on the scoring fun and made a breakaway for the goal. But Littleton defender Emily Stearns stopped her in her tracks, taking the ball away before any attempt could be made.
Littleton had several chances to score, but all of them missed just wide. Littleton player Kayla Nixon, who got a free kick off a foul, shot the ball just over the crossbar. Another Littleton free kick from Shannon Riordan was also skied. Fitzsimmons seemed in total control as she knocked down and blocked shot after shot. At one point, Nixon got possession of the ball while Fitzsimmons was on the ground after blocking a shot. But Bromfield defender Deirdre Kennedy blocked Nixon’s shot with her left leg, enabling Bromfield to get the ball away in time. Before the first half ended, Osgood scored her second goal of the game, with an assist from Doben, giving Bromfield a 3-0 lead to end the first half.
A redeeming result
The second half began with an aggressive offense by Littleton, but it was to no avail, as Fitzsimmons kept the ball out of the net. Kennedy assisted as well, keeping the ball away as she launched it high into the air, sending it to the other side of the field. Nixon had one more chance to give Littleton a boost as she took a free kick near the goal, but her shot was once again blocked by Fitzsimmons. As the game came to a close, Osgood capped off the day by scoring her third goal of the afternoon with another assist from Turchetta, achieving a well-earned hat trick. The game ended with a 4-0 Bromfield win, redeeming them from their previous loss to Littleton.
Michael Jarosz is a junior at the Bromfield School.
