The Bromfield varsity girls lacrosse team won its first match of the season 8–7 against Division 1 team Algonquin on Thursday, March 31, .
Bromfield showed up ready to win, and after a team cheer of “Who will, we will!” marched onto the field for the season’s first game. The girls set the tone with an impressive passing sequence by Meaghan Parlee, Kaeli Armstrong, and Sophia Turchetta, which culminated in a decisive goal from Turchetta. Armstrong then quickly proceeded to net another goal, eliciting cheers from the fans who had come out to support their team.
Meaghan Parlee goes straight up the middle for a goal. (Photo by Lisa Aciukewicz)
But Algonquin wasn’t ready to give up to a Division 2 school without a fight, breaking away from Bromfield’s strong offense to shoot, miss, and shoot again, this time netting a goal, narrowing the score to 2–1.
Another goal from Cara Olejarz took the score to 3–1, but Algonquin pushed harder, getting another two goals to tie the score. When they threatened again, bringing themselves close to Bromfield’s goalie, Coach Dave Planchet called a timeout and had a talk with his players.
Bromfield returned from the timeout strong and refreshed. The Trojans took the ball back out of their court and Turchetta scored a goal, bringing the game to halftime. “I like it,” players could hear Coach Planchet cheering.
A tall order
Both teams returned from halftime ready to play. The teams traded shots—Bromfield, Algonquin, Bromfield—and then two shots from Algonquin, bringing the game to a tie at 7–7. Olejarz scored again after intense back and forth from both teams, and Bromfield called a timeout. Coach Planchet could be heard telling his players “Every single one of you wants this ball right now.” Bromfield held the ball to the end, securing the win.
Turchetta ended the game as the top scorer, with three goals and four assists, making every shot she took. Coach Planchet also noted that the team’s defense and goalie were instrumental to the game’s outcome.
Coach Planchet remarked after the game, “Starting off against a hard team like Algonquin, it’s a tall order.” When asked if he was looking forward to the rest of the season, Coach Planchet enthusiastically replied that he was, and said, “I think that we can only get better.”
The unstoppable senior captain Soph Turchetta (center) sprints past her opponent.
Kate Selig is a freshman at the Bromfield School.
