The Bromfield girls varsity lacrosse team suffered two losses coming off the April break, falling to North Middlesex 15-12 on Tuesday, April 29, and Westborough 19-11 on Wednesday, April 30. The Trojans are currently in fourth place in the six-school Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association Midland Wachusett B League.
On Tuesday, the sky was a cloudless blue and temperatures were summerlike, nearing the 80 degree mark. Bromfield thrived during the first half of the game against North Middlesex at the McCurdy Track, maintaining a high percentage of draw controls, thanks to freshman Audrey Burek, the team’s draw specialist. A draw begins the game and restarts play after every goal scored. A player from each team meets in the center of the field, stick to stick, while the referee sets the ball between the two. When the whistle blows, the draw specialists jointly launch the ball into the air, and each team fights to gain possession.
Unfortunately, Burek was injured early in the second half, and Bromfield’s offense and defense struggled. “Heading into the game, we expected another close one,” said head coach Ali Wicks. “The game was neck and neck the whole time with a two score differential until the fourth quarter.”
Game high-scorer, freshman Kate Wicks (daughter of coach Wicks) had four goals, and the goalie, junior Darragh O’Connor, had 11 saves in the net. North Middlesex is ranked second in the MIAA Mid-Wach B division.
The following day, the Trojans were back at McCurdy for a home game against Westborough and appreciating the cooler, more springlike conditions. Heading into the game, coach Wicks anticipated a battle with the Mid-Wach B division’s number one team.
“I had no doubt this would be our most challenging divisional opponent this season,” said Wicks. “They have an historically strong program, and several of their players are on the conference leaderboard.”
In the game’s first half, Bromfield lost almost every draw but managed to keep the Rangers within one goal throughout. After halftime, Westborough came out strong both on and off the field, with their bench screaming cheers that could be heard from several hundred feet away.
Toward the end of the fourth quarter, Bromfield committed a yellow card penalty in which the Trojans had to play for two minutes minus a player on the field. With Bromfield already at a 5 point deficit, the penalty gave the Rangers the opportunity to score a few quick goals, leading the Trojans to its 8 point loss.
Game high-scorer, junior Hanna Wicks (coach Wick’s daughter), had five goals and goalie, O’Connor, had nine saves.
The Trojans were scheduled to play two away games this week, at Westborough on Tuesday, May 6, and Tyngsboro on Thursday, May 8.
