Having been awarded a bye in the first round of the MIAA Central Division 4 championships, the Bromfield boys soccer team (11-3-3) took on the Ayer Shirley Panthers (10-6-2) in a quarterfinal match at FC Stars field in Lancaster on Monday, Nov. 5, beating its nextdoor neighbor, 4-0.
The Trojans scored all four of their goals in the first half. Senior Charlie Pappas scored first at 15 minutes into the game, followed 10 minutes later by senior halfback Jack Donaldson, who fired a rebounding ball past the Ayer Shirley keeper and into the net. Pappas added a third goal with a breakaway attack up the center, and junior Will Armstrong contributed the fourth and final goal in the remaining minutes of the half.
After an assertive start, however, the Trojans were unable to duplicate their first-half success, in spite of maintaining possession for most of the remaining 45 minutes of the game. When Ayer Shirley called a timeout with only 15 minutes left, Bromfield Coach Alex Horne noted that the score for the second half was 0-0. “You have 15 minutes to turn it around,” he told his team. But at this point the team had gone deep into its bench to give less experienced players some game time, and while the Trojans had several opportunities to add to their total, a spirited Panther defense and shots gone awry left them scoreless for the half when the game-ending whistle blew.
The weather Monday was miserable, with overcast skies, sporadic drizzle, and temperatures in the lower 40s. Three dozen Bromfield parents and fans watched from the stands, popping umbrellas whenever rain fell. With daylight saving time ended, the field grew dark and field lights switched on at 4:30 p.m.
At game’s end, Horne and his players gathered for a post-game huddle. Horne warned that although the team had won its quarterfinal match and shut out its opponent, they had not played well. They needed to up their game, he warned, or they would lose their next match. “I guarantee it,” he said.
That match, a semifinal game against number two seed Hopedale High School (12-4-2), was scheduled to be played Thursday evening, Nov. 8, at Assabet Regional High School. Start time is 7 p.m.
Junior Will Armstrong powers a shot past his opponent to score the fourth goal late in the first half of the game against Ayer Shirley Nov. 5. (Photos by Lisa Aciukewicz)
Freshman Geraghty Vellante winds up for a shot on goal in the second half of the game.
