The Bromfield girls lacrosse team defeated the Dover-Sherborn Raiders in a close 13–12 away game Thursday, April 19. In a break from the warm week before, the girls faced a game day that started with snow but turned to rain.
“Today’s the day,” Coach Dave Planchet told the girls. “You’re playing a good team. You’re a good team. You can’t control the past, but you can control today.”
Senior Courtney Route (No. 11) looks for a pass in a game against Wachusett, April 24.
Bromfield opened the game strong with two quick goals from senior captain Chandler Farley and freshman Olivia Kehoe. However, with a burst of aggression, the Raiders won the ball on the next draw and hastily scrambled toward Bromfield’s net. After a failed shot, Bromfield senior goalie and captain Emily Podgorni recovered the ball and sent it out, only to have Dover-Sherborn recover it and approach the net again in a more controlled manner. This time, the Raiders scored.
Two more successful goals from Dover-Sherborn and one from junior Courtney Route brought the game to a tense tie. One time out and a successful goal from the Raiders later, the Bromfield girls were on edge, with the score 4–3, Raiders.
“It’s OK. Be patient. It’s there,” Coach Planchet called out from the sidelines. When Dover-Sherborn lost a player on the field due to a foul for a dangerous check, it appeared that Bromfield could have a chance at regaining its initial lead. The Raiders instead took it as a chance to score twice more, winning the draws rapidly.
Sophomore Izzy Planchet goes in for a goal. (Photos by Lisa Aciukewicz)
The two then traded off goals until the last 30 seconds of play, with the Raiders slightly ahead, 7–6. With 30 seconds on the clock, Bromfield pushed for a last-minute goal to tie the score, but as Bromfield closed in on the goal, Dover-Sherborn recovered the ball. With one second left, the Raiders scored, ending the first half up 8–6.
The second half began with more goals traded off between the two teams while the Raiders began to vary the plays they were running near Bromfield’s goal. Route had an especially strong game in the second half, scoring the first of Bromfield’s three goals. This was followed by goals from eighth-grader Tallie Dutkewych and junior Brianna Carlisle, tying the score again at 11–11.
With less than 10 minutes on the game clock, Bromfield called a timeout, ending it with a cheer: “Finish!” Eighth-graders Izzy Katter and Carlisle scored, but the Raiders did as well, leaving the game narrowly in Bromfield’s favor, 13–12, with a minute and a half to go. The Bromfield girls won the draw and maintained control of the ball with the knowledge that one failed pass could cost them the game. With quick passes to one another, Bromfield’s midfield and backfield players kept the ball to themselves with passes that crisscrossed the field and stayed one step ahead of the Raider’s defense, ultimately winning the game through sheer possession.
Bromfield will play Minnechaug Regional, away, Saturday, May 5, in Wilbraham; Algonquin Regional, home, Tuesday, May 8; and Hopkinton, home, Thursday, May 10.
Kate Selig is a Bromfield junior.
