The unstoppable Sophie Turchetta goes in for one of her seven goals of the evening. (Photos by Lisa Aciukewicz)
Meaghan Parlee moves the ball deftly past her opponents.
Lexie Dutkewych goes head-to-head with the Wayland goalie.
From left: Lexie Dutkewych, Jackie Planchet, and Marcy Shappy celebrate winning the division on June 7.
The Bromfield girls’ lacrosse team won its semifinal Division 2 match against Wayland Tuesday night by a score of 9–8 at Foley Stadium in Worcester.
Once again the top scorer was sophomore Sophia Turchetta with seven goals, while seniors Jackie Planchet and Lexi Dutkewych scored one goal apiece. Goalie Julia Hoggins was credited with 11 saves.
The game was hard fought and physical, played under skies that threatened all evening to unleash thunder and lightening. But in the end, the only thunder of the night came from the stands and the crowd of roughly 300 fans who came to watch the match.
Trojans overcome early Wayland lead to tie game at half
The Wayland Warriers got off to a fast start, scoring two goals in the first minute of the game. But the Trojans quickly recovered and had tied the game at 2-2 by the 10-minute mark. A flurry of goals in the final seconds of the half brought the score to 5-5, but not before Sophie Turchetta was charged with a dangerous shot from midfield that soared over the horizontal bar of the Wayland goalpost as the horn sounded to end the half.
With Turchetta in the penalty box as the second half began, Wayland quickly scored three goals to pull ahead 8-5 in the first five minutes of play. Working their way back from a three-point deficit, the Trojans were still trailing by one point 17 minutes into the period. But with eight minutes remaining, Planchet finally evened the score at 8-8 with an unassisted goal. From that point on, Bromfield remained largely in control, and neither side scored as the clock ran down.
With only 57 seconds left, coach David Planchet called timeout. When his players returned to the field, it was Turchetta who struck one last time, darting past Wayland’s black-and-orange-shirted defenders to score the final goal of the game and give Bromfield a 9-8 lead. Wayland won the draw and managed to get off two more shots on Bromfield’s goal, but the Trojan defense held, and when the buzzer sounded, the Trojan girls were headed for the finals.
Focus and persistence pay off
Asked by a reporter how it felt to be down by three points, Captain Planchet and midfielder Turchetta said they were so focused on their game they didn’t give it a thought. “Our coach told us [Wayland] was a tough team and they were going to make some easy goals. We’re used to being behind at the start of a game,” Planchet said.
Prior to the game, Coach Planchet had also told his players, “What makes you a great team is your persistence. You never give up.”
“Coming out of here with a win, we’re talking about dreams come true,” Coach Planchet told reporters after the game. “I’m numb.”
Bromfield will now play North District champ Newburyport for the state Division 2 title on Saturday, June 14, at 10:30 a.m. at Boston University’s Nickerson Field.
Goalie Julia Hoggins and her defenders prevent a goal.
