Senior Kathryn Hodskins maneuvers around a Murdock opponent. (Photos by Lisa Aciukewicz)
The Bromfield varsity field hockey team won this week’s sole home game 4-0 against Murdock High School Monday, Sept. 22, after defeating Clinton 8-0 away on Monday, Sept. 14, and Gardner 3-0 at home on Wednesday, Sept. 17.
The Trojans dominated the first half, keeping the ball in Murdock’s end of the field. During the half, Bromfield took 10 shots on the net, but were unsuccessful in scoring. Murdock goaltender Alyssa Labrack saved every shot she faced during the first 30 minutes.
The half continued with several close plays on goal. Bromfield senior Colby Newsham sent the ball into the middle of the circle where she found senior Casey Russell, who pushed the ball just short of the right side of the net. A similar play occurred in the very last minutes of the half when junior Suzy Opalka sent the ball to the right corner of the net for senior Aliza Maki to tap in on the post, but when Maki was unable to reach the ball, it passed over the end line.
Superb defensive play
Bromfield’s defense was superb throughout the game, allowing only two shots on senior goaltender Moira Morgan. When a Murdock defender whacked the ball downfield into Bromfield’s defensive territory, senior defender Kathryn Hodskins stopped the ball and returned it back down the line to the Trojans’ offensive end.
Junior Lily Moore-Eissenberg takes the ball downfield.
In the last 30 seconds of the first half, Bromfield received a penalty corner. Newsham took the ball at the top of the circle and sent a hard shot through its center, but unfortunately her ball crossed the end line before a Bromfield player could play on cage. The half ended with two goose eggs on the scoreboard. Bromfield had a total of nine corners during the first half, but Murdock had zero shots on goal and zero corners.
At halftime, Bromfield coach Sue Silver affirmed that her girls were “doing everything but putting the ball in the hole.” When the halftime break ended, the Trojans charged back onto the field ready to attack.
Seven minutes came off the clock before Bromfield finally put the ball in the hole. Maki received a pass from junior Lily Moore-Eissenberg and flicked the ball from the top of the circle to the backboard for the first goal of the game.
As the second half continued, Opalka tapped the ball into the lower right corner after a pass from Maki, putting the Trojans up 2-0. Not more than a minute after her first goal, Opalka scored a second on a tip-in from Newsham’s ball sailing to the lower right corner of the net. The shot barely missed Murdock goalie Labrack’s pads.
Aiming for district playoffs
The last goal of the game was made by junior Maddie Ragno, who sent the ball past Labrack and into the middle of the net, leaving the final score of the game 4-0 Bromfield. With seconds remaining, the Trojans secured two corners but couldn’t cram in a last-minute goal before the game ended. This win leaves the Trojans with a 7-1 season record.
The team now has its eyes set on the Mid-Wach District playoffs. Qualification for post-season play is determined by a point system: each game win earns a team two points; a tie is worth one point; and a loss is worth zero points. A team qualifies when it has won half its games, which for Bromfield would require nine game wins and 18 district points. Currently, the team has earned 14 points and needs to win two more games to qualify for Districts.
Field hockey begins the second half of its season against the Littleton Tigers at home on Monday, Sept. 29. In the past, Littleton’s program has been competitive with Bromfield. Last year, the Trojans lost twice to the Tigers, with scores of 3-2 and 4-1. Despite last year’s losses, Newsham quotes Arnold Palmer: “Always make a total effort, even when the odds are against you.”
Casey Russell and Julia Hoggins are seniors at the Bromfield School. Russell is a member of the varsity field hockey team.
