With back-to-back victories in the Central Massachusetts Athletic Association’s Class A district playoffs this past week, the 2022 girls lacrosse players have banished any doubts about their determination or ability to capture the central Massachusetts title once again.
Three lacrosse players celebrate career achievements. From left, eighth-grader Clover Logan scored her first varsity goal; senior Kristin Podgorni made her 100th point, scored in the game against Nashoba; and goalie Peyton VanDorpe made her 300th save. (Courtesy photo)
In their quarterfinal match at home on May 28, the Trojans outscored the No. 8 seed Nashoba Regional Wolves 19-4. And two days later, at home again, they routed the No. 4 seed Shrewsbury Colonials, 18-4, in a Memorial Day morning semifinal. Now the team has a chance to capture the central Massachusetts district championship once again when it plays the No. 3 seed Grafton Gators (18-2).
In Monday’s match against the Colonials, the Trojans took control of the game from the beginning and didn’t let up in 50 minutes of play as temperatures soared towards 80 degrees.
The Trojans dominated draw control (12-5), outshot their opponents (27-9), and forced more turnovers (6-0), maintaining possession for long stretches between goals as the minutes ticked away. More than half the Trojan goals were assisted (11) versus none for the Colonials, and Bromfield goalie senior Peyton VanDorpe had an outstanding morning with five saves, reaching and surpassing a career total of 300.
Seniors Julia Mara and Megan Hoggins were the team’s top scorers, with four goals apiece. Hoggins was also the day’s playmaker, with four assists, followed by senior Talia Dutkewych with two. Eighth-grader Clover Logan scored her first goal as a varsity player, while sophomore Kristin Podgorni scored her 100th. By game’s end, seven Trojan players had scored at least once.
Now it’s on to the Class A district final. The Trojans last played Grafton on April 1, narrowly defeating the Gators 8-7 in the final 30 seconds of their season opener. The Gators lost only one other game this season—to the No. 2 seed Algonquin Titans, 13-7, on May 23. This week, however, the Gators had their revenge, beating the Titans 10-6 in Tuesday’s CMADA semifinal at Northborough.
While Grafton is a Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association Division 2 school, ranked 16th among the 48 other division 2 schools in the state, Bromfield, a Division 3 school, has a higher MIAA power rating (10.2530 vs. 5.2849). How much of a difference this makes to the outcome of their match will be revealed next week.
The two teams will meet for a final showdown at Littleton Middle School on Monday, June 6, at 7 p.m.
Senior Kristin Podgorni scores a goal. (Photos by Jen Manell)
Senior Megan Hoggins takes a shot on goal in Bromfield’s quarterfinal match against Nashoba Regional on May 28.
