The second seed Bromfield boys soccer players (12-4-0) narrowly defeated seventh seed Tyngsborough (4-8-4) by a score of 2-1 in their Central Massachusetts Class C quarterfinal match against the Tigers Monday night, Oct. 23, played under the lights at Ayer Shirley High School’s Norton Field.
It was a game that Bromfield dominated from the start, maintaining possession for most of the match, with plenty of opportunities to run up the score. But the Tigers stuffed their backfield with defenders who smothered Bromfield’s attacks and the team’s star striker, co-captain Brendan Listzwan. Tyngsborough’s goalie Sean Culver had a half-dozen saves in the first half alone, and as the first 40-minute period came to a close, both teams were scoreless.
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Bromfield’s Jacob Dwight sets to kick the ball upfield in Bromfield’s 2-1 win over Tyngsborough, Oct. 23. (Photos by Kent Boynton)
Bromfield finally broke through the Tigers’ defense halfway into the second period, allowing Listzwan to score twice, once on a well-placed cross by Conor Glew and a second time with help from Lucas Bala.
Throughout the evening, the Tigers attempted fast counterattacks up Bromfield’s left wing, sending the ball from center field to one of its speedy forwards, but they were inevitably frustrated by Bromfield’s defenders. With only 10 minutes left, however, an unmarked Tiger striker, Sean Mullin, finally made it to Bromfield’s net, sending the ball past goalie Luke Maclean to score—unassisted—Tyngsborough’s lone goal.
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Bromfield team co-captain Brendan Listzwan is undercut by the Tyngsborough goalkeeper as he takes a shot on goal.
Coach Alex Horne and co-captain Listzwan, in their post-game comments, both praised the team’s play. “For me personally, they were definitely putting high pressure on me; as soon as I got the ball, there’d be two people on me,” Listzwan said. But he thought the team played well. “That was some of the best soccer we’ve played,” he said. “The issue was just finishing, putting the ball in the back of the net.”
With its winning performance Monday, Bromfield advanced to the Central Mass. Class C semifinals, where they were to face third seed Maynard (10-5-2) Thursday, Oct. 26, on the fast turf of Ayer Shirley High School’s Norton Field. Earlier this season Maynard beat Bromfield 3-2 in an away game, but Bromfield shut out the Tigers 2-0 in a rematch at home Oct. 12.
