Trojan field hockey dominates Red Raiders, holds firm at No. 2 in Mid-Wach D

Following a one-week hiatus, the Bromfield girls field hockey team added a fourth game to their winning streak, beating the Fitchburg Red Raiders 4-1 at home Monday afternoon, Sept. 29.

The victory solidified the Trojans’ position as the No. 2 team in the Midland-Wachusett D Division, where they trail first-place Narragansett by a single loss.

Bromfield dominated Monday’s game from the start. Midfielder Anna Selig scored first on an assist by forward Anthony Cianfichi, barely three minutes into the first quarter. Fitchburg countered in the quarter’s final moments to even the score 1-1. But the rest of the game belonged to the Trojans, who increased their lead to 4-1, with additional goals scored in each of the remaining three quarters.

Including her first goal, Selig scored twice and assisted Cianfichi on his single goal of the game. Forward Hannah Huelin scored once in the second quarter on an assist by Cianfichi.

Bromfield’s repeated attacks inside Fitchburg’s shooting semicircle led to their award of 20 penalty corners, compared to Fitchburg’s three. Bromfield, however, capitalized on its outsized advantage only once in the final minutes of the game. In a set play, Selig passed the ball to Cianfichi inside Fitchburg’s scoring circle, who flicked it into the Red Raiders’ box with his signature backhand.

Captain Tess Dirstine said in a postgame interview that Fitchburg had played well. “Because they’re a team that plays on artificial turf, they have good stick skills,” she said. But she noted that the thick grass and bumpiness of Bromfield’s field hockey field made it difficult to shoot and dribble. “I don’t think they were used to it.”

Coach Miki Fitzgibbons was upbeat. “I think we have a chance, a real chance to win [the Mid-Wach D championship],” she said. To be 7-1 right now, that’s the best record we’ve ever had. This team has the potential to beat any team, if we [don’t] beat ourselves.”

In the Mid-Wach D Division, Bromfield ranks second, behind Narragansett. But Bromfield (7-1-0) ranks well ahead of Narragansett (8-1-2) in the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association power rankings released this week: 13th place for Bromfield versus 22nd for Narragansett. The two teams were scheduled to meet for a second time this season in an away game at Narragansett Wednesday afternoon. Bromfield’s only loss this season was its 2-1 defeat by Narragansett in September.