Bromfield’s parents, alumni, siblings, young lacrosse players, and even its soon-to-be-principal turned out to watch the Trojans defeat the Grafton Indians 15–2 on Tuesday, June 7, at Nashoba Regional High School in the district semifinals.
The game opened with Grafton’s quickly winning the first draw and attempting multiple shots on goalie Emily Podgorni. Podgorni recovered the ball and was able to pass up to the Bromfield midfielders, who took some shots on Grafton’s goal. Grafton’s goalie caught a shot and sent it to her fellow Indians, who by means of quick passes, outpaced the Trojans and scored.
Izzy Planchet scoops up a ground ball before her Grafton opponent can reach it as Anita Chiders provides backup. (Photos by Lisa Aciukewicz)
However, Bromfield won the next draw and made major advances down the field as a result of Grafton’s fouling repeatedly. Grafton intercepted a Bromfield pass, though, and was able to take a few shots on Podgorni, one of which went out of bounds, giving Sophia Turchetta the chance to pass to Podgorni, who sent the ball out. Back at the Grafton goal, the Trojans took multiple shots, and Kaeli Armstrong netted Bromfield its first goal.
Grafton’s first goal would be the only one the Indians got in the first half. Turchetta won the next draw and passed to Anita Childers, who scored very quickly. After that, Armstrong netted another goal that rolled in while the Grafton goalie hurriedly attempted to stop it on the ground. Turchetta then scored again after checking the ball out of a Grafton stick while the Indians attempted to shoot on Podgorni. Finally, with 1:41 on the clock, a three-seconds call was made on Grafton, giving Meaghan Parlee an 8-meter shot, which she made.
After the half, the game was largely the same, with Grafton making only one goal. Bromfield’s four-point lead grew quickly after goals from Turchetta, Parlee, Courtney Route, Armstrong, and Chandler Farley.
After outmaneuvering the defense, Sophia Turchetta whips the ball past the goalie for a point.
As a result, Grafton called a timeout and won the draw. Grafton ran the ball down the field and took a shot that Podgorni blocked. She sent the ball back down the field and Turchetta and Izzy Planchet both took blocked shots on the Grafton goal, giving Grafton the ball again. Back near Podgorni, a Bromfield shooting space violation gave the Indians an 8-meter shot and their second goal of the game.
Although the Indians displayed renewed vigor after that goal, Bromfield was determined to win the game strong. The score was 10–2 after the Grafton goal, but more goals from Parlee, Planchet, Turchetta, and Farley clinched the game for the Trojans, 15–2, a major victory after the close 14–12 win against Grafton in the regular season.
Coach Dave Planchet was very proud of the girls, saying after the game, “Today we were very efficient, everyone was here to play, everyone was focused. I saw a lot of good things.”
Bromfield versus Wahconah
Bromfield soundly defeated the eighth-ranked Wahconah Regional High School Warriors in the Division 2 quarterfinals, 19–7, on Friday, June 3, at home.
A huge Wahconah crowd arrived at the field to watch the teams face off. Wahconah had just won a 12–5 game against Lunenburg and was ready to face Bromfield, the top-seeded superpower.
Turchetta scored right away, but Wahconah soon responded with a goal of its own. However, after the initial trade-off, Bromfield quickly won the next draw and kept the ball in Warrior territory. Turchetta scored again, signaling the start of Bromfield’s first-half dominance.
Wahconah called a timeout to discuss its two-goal deficit. On return, the Warriors won the ball, only to lose it by committing a foul, giving defender Lindsey Hoggins the ball. She was able to pass up the field, allowing Bromfield to set up a play and Parlee to score.
Wahconah fans begged their players not to give up, shouting, “It’s not over yet, blue!” However, repeated physical collisions between Wahconah and Bromfield players consistently gave Bromfield the ball and Izzy Planchet the goal, much to the chagrin of the Wahconah fans who berated the referee for his decisions. Turchetta then won the draw and sprinted down the field for a fast goal, prompting the Warriors to gather on the field to discuss strategy.
Although Bromfield once again won the draw, Wahconah intercepted the ball and fought for every inch down the field. Podgorni blocked Wahconah’s first shot while begging Bromfield defenders to put more pressure on the ball; the second shot went in.
Turchetta quickly avenged that goal with fast-draw control and a lighting shot.
However, after Bromfield won the next draw, Wahconah again intercepted a pass and shot a goal that energized both the Wahconah fans and players.
Route then won the draw and scored fast, like Turchetta before. The half ended with Bromfield possessing the ball in Wahconah territory.
Turchetta scored the first goal of the second half, but Wahconah won the draw after that and scored as well. However, Turchetta, Parlee, and Planchet each followed up with a goal.
Although the Warriors scored three more times before the end of the game, Bromfield’s consistent possession of the ball allowed Turchetta and Planchet to score twice more, and Parlee and Route to score once each.
Turchetta ended the game as the high scorer, with nine goals and one assist, and Parlee second highest, with four goals and one assist. Podgorni made five saves in all.
Bromfield will face the winner of Wednesday’s semifiinal game between Groton-Dunstable and Tyngsborough, probably on Saturday, June 11.
Kate Selig is a Bromfield freshman.
