Bromfield lost to Lunenburg 3–2 at home Thursday, Sept. 28, in a close game that was decided in the second half with two Lunenburg goals.
The two teams were closely matched, giving new Bromfield freshman goalie Lauren Walling-Sotolongo plenty of opportunities to make saves. Bromfield won the opening faceoff, but Lunenburg quickly stole the ball and advanced toward the goal. Bromfield managed to take the ball up the field at one point but passed the ball out of bounds. Lunenburg recovered, took the ball down the field, and scored the first goal of the game.
Senior Kiley Russell shoots the ball right by her opponent. (Photos by Lisa Aciukewicz)
Thanks to a strong lift from sophomore Ella Corbett that sent the ball over Lunenburg players’ heads, Bromfield was able to close in on Lunenburg’s circle but failed to make a goal, a move that Lunenburg capitalized on by bringing the ball to the other side and getting a corner. Although Lunenburg’s defense was strong, freshman Claire Stoddard had two opportunities to sprint the ball up the field and attempt a goal. On her second try, Bromfield’s offense was able to follow her and settle in the circle. Off a drive from Corbett, senior Nicole Bourque scored, tying the game at 1–1.
Toward the end of the first half, players from both teams were taken off the field to serve penalties. During play, a Lunenburg fan was called out by the referees for being too aggressive, resulting in the removal of a Lunenburg player from the game for two minutes with a green card and leaving Bromfield with an extra player. Then Bromfield, already with one violation of the rule that an opponent must be 5 yards away from the player taking a free hit, received a green card for violating the 5-yard rule a second time. As Corbett was sent out, the Lunenburg player returned. Now Lunenburg was the team with an extra player, but the half ended with the ball being passed back and forth in the center of the field with neither team able to exploit its one-player advantage.
Senior Lauren Hadorn goes in for a shot.
Lunenburg opened the second half by taking possession of the ball and scoring twice, suddenly shifting the game in their favor. Bromfield spent the rest of the half with strong defense trying to get the game back.
Nearly 20 minutes in, the game shifted back to Bromfield’s offensive action. Stoddard again broke free from the defense and ran with the ball to the goal. Bromfield offense closed in, and thanks to senior captain Greer Jarvis’ stick work, the ball didn’t leave the circle. Finally, with an assist from senior captain Lauren Hadorn, Stoddard scored, closing the gap to 3–2. But time had run out.
After the game, Coach Susan Silver reflected, “I never felt we were out of the game. Everyone contributed.” She said she was especially proud of the forwards, noting, “Another five minutes and we would have tied it up. I wish the outcome was better. I wish we had won. But I was really proud.”
Bromfield is scheduled to play Littleton Tuesday, Oct. 10, at Littleton Middle School; Gardner, at home, Wednesday, Oct. 11; and Narragansett at home, Friday, Oct. 13.
Kate Selig is a Bromfield junior.
