The Bromfield Trojans suffered their only loss of the regular season against the Westborough Rangers Tuesday, Oct. 31, but then won their first Central Mass Division 4 playoff, 6–0, against Douglas the following Monday. Preceding the Westborough game, Coach Tom Hill was honored for his many years of coaching at Bromfield.
Bromfield’s Jon Gall (No. 6) and Will Armstrong (No. 17) fly high, keeping the ball from the Douglas goalie. (Photos by Kent Boynton)
Coach Hill, retiring this year after 45 years at the Bromfield School, 41 of which he spent coaching soccer, was presented with a plaque commending him for his commitment to coaching. Several speakers, including Bromfield Principal Scott Hoffman, described Hill as “passionate, dedicated, selfless, and disinclined to draw attention to himself.” Alex Horn, who will succeed Hill as soccer coach next year, announced that a scholarship has been created in Hill’s honor, titled the Tom Hill Scholarship. This scholarship will go to a senior who displays commitment, dedication, passion, and overall outstanding team play.
Team co-captain Jack Armstrong told the Press that Hill was “almost like a third parent.” “Personally, and I know I speak for all the rest of the seniors, we’ve learned a lot from him about being people while also getting better with our soccer skills.”
Hill told the Press his love for coaching team sports was a love of the kids who play at Bromfield. “I’ll miss the kids the most. … I’ll miss the kids more than I’ll miss the soccer,” he said. Hill said that “the key” to the soccer success that Bromfield had achieved while he was coach had been “the vast amount of talent that I have had the privilege of coaching here at Bromfield.” Hill also credited the subvarsity coaches, HAA club coaches, and parents for contributing to much of his success, and he described the team’s success as “a town success.”
Ryan Glazier scores goal number six over a sliding Douglas goalie.
The final score of the final game of the regular season was 3–0, Westborough. All three of Westborough’s goals were made in the last 10 minutes by Greg Amador, Tyler Stott, and Thomas VonDerVellen. Westborough is a Mid-Wach League Division B team whereas Bromfield is a Mid-Wach Division D team. Before the Westborough game, two of Bromfield’s starting defensemen, Patrick Flanagan and Dimitri Dutkewych, were injured and did not play.
In the first playoff game against Douglas, Bromfield won 6–0. In the first half, Jack Armstrong and Jon Gall each scored with assists by Marcos Lora and Jake Catalina, respectively. In the second half, Armstrong scored two more goals, one with an assist from Shane Bilodeau. Charlie Pappas and Ryan Glazier also scored in the second half with assists from Riley Fitzsimmons and Will Armstrong. The Trojans were next scheduled to play in the district semifinals against Clinton in Lunenburg Wednesday, Nov. 8, at 7 p.m.
Fiona Morrison is a Bromfield sophomore.
Editor’s note: Anyone wishing to donate to the newly established Tom Hill Scholarship Fund should send a check made out to Harvard Public Schools, attention Tom Hill Scholarship Fund, to Scott Hoffman, Principal, The Bromfield School, 14 Massachusetts Avenue, Harvard, MA 01451
