The Bromfield Trojans (16–6) soared past the Mount Greylock Mounties (17–4) to win the MIAA Central/West District Division 2 championship 15–6 at East Longmeadow High School, Thursday afternoon, June 14. They are headed to the Division 2 state championship playoffs for the first time since 2014.
Front row, from left: Natalia Dutkewych, Nat L’Ecuyer, Emily Heinemann, Co-captain Emily Podgorni, Co-captain Chandler Farley, Courtney Route, and Mary Crissien. Back row, from left: Mackinley Chipman, Sophie Bartram, Brianna Carlisle, Izzy Planchet, Coach David Planchet, Meg Hoggins, Izzy Katter, Peyton Van Dorpe, Bella Kehoe, Anna Laursen, Emily Brown, Olivia Kehoe, Caroline Mara, Emma Ortega, and Raiya Suliman. (Photo by Lisa Aciukewicz)
The Trojans and Mounties were seeded first and second, respectively, in the Central/West District, but the Bromfield girls dominated the field with an aggressive and speedy offense, led by freshman Izzy Planchet, who scored six of the team’s 15 goals. Bromfield players outshot Mount Greylock 30–12 and led in recovery of ground balls 17–10. And led by Planchet, the Trojans dominated draw control, winning possession in 17 of 23 faceoffs, 10 of which were won by Planchet.
“Unfortunately this is a game of possession and [Bromfield was] winning the draws,” said Mounties Coach Lindsey von Holtz after the game. “[Planchet] was impressive. No matter the combination, she seemed to be getting [the ball] no matter which direction it went, so I give her a lot of credit.”
The game got off to a fast start, with Bromfield scoring six goals in the first 20 minutes of play. With less than 10 minutes remaining in the half, Mounties freshman Carolyn Jones scored her team’s first goal. Junior Clare Sheedy scored the Mounties’ second goal before the half ended, but by then the Trojans led 9–2 on five goals by Planchet, three by junior Courtney Route, and one by freshman Bella Kehoe.
“We knew we could use our team speed,” Bromfield Coach David Planchet said after the game. “Even when we play the Division 1 teams, team speed helps us. Jokingly I tell the track coach never to come to my practice.”
Bromfield shifted strategy in the second half, slowing play and drawing Mount Greylock defenders away from their goal to create openings for Trojan attackers. Bromfield added six more goals, while the Mounties broke through the Trojan defense four times to add four to their own tally. Bromfield’s 15th and final point was scored by Planchet with barely a minute remaining in the game.
Izzy Katter scores against Mt. Greylock.
Having secured a spot in the state championship playoffs, Bromfield was scheduled to play a semifinal game against East District champion Wayland High School (18–2) June 20 at 5:30 p.m. at Nashoba Regional High School. The winner was to play South District champion Norwell High School for the state championship June 23 at Boston University.
Prior to the Wayland matchup, Coach Planchet was optimistic. Any East District champion is going to be a seasoned team, he said. “[When] you play a team like that, you just have to minimize your mistakes or they’ll make you pay.” But, he added, if the team is mistake-free and runs an offense like the one it ran against Mount Greylock, “we’ll be competitive.”
Bromfield game stats
Goals: Izzy Planchet 6, Courtney Route 4, Olivia Kehoe 2, Bella Kehoe 1, Izzy Katter 1, Chandler Farley 1.
Assists: Farley 2, Planchet 1.
Saves: Emily Podgorni 5.
