The Bromfield varsity boys soccer team shut out Boston International 3–0 to win the MIAA Division 4 state championship Saturday, Nov. 18, at Fitchburg State.
Charlie Pappas makes it 2–0 in Bromfield’s win over Boston International. (Photo by Kent Boynton)
A crowd of more than 300 parents, alumni, students, and team fans drove from Harvard to support the Trojans. Despite steady rainfall beginning at the end of the first half, the crowd enthusiastically cheered the team on throughout the game. Junior Charlie Pappas scored twice, once in each half. His first goal, 19 minutes into the first half, had the team jumping up and down high-fiving one another. Senior and co-captain Jack Armstrong scored the third and final goal in the second half, heading a free kick from junior Patrick Flanagan into the Lions’ net. It was Bromfield’s ninth state championship in 12 appearances. Their last state win was in 2008.
Ryell deRuijter outpaces his Boston International competitor. (Photo by Lisa Aciukewicz)
The Trojans’ defense was in top form, holding off threats from Lions’ junior midfielder Jesus Batiz, who had made his team’s lone goal in its 1–0 win over Cohasset at the Division 4 North versus South semifinal. Lions’ goalie, senior Helder Vaz-Depina, had a busy night with multiple saves, while Bromfield’s goalie, senior Austin Franklin, was relatively unchallenged. The game was hard fought, with one frustrated Boston International player ejected late in the second half for a slide tackle from behind on senior forward Ryell deRuijter as he was advancing on the Lions’ goal.
After the game the Trojans were ecstatic, shouting, cheering, and hugging in the frigid air as they congratulated one another. Armstrong described the evening as “surreal” and identified Bromfield’s strong offense and levelheadedness as two of the team’s major strengths.
Trophy in hand, co-captain Jack Armstrong heads toward the stands Bromfield wins the state championship. (Photo by Lisa Aciukewicz)
Boston International Coach Apolinario Barros echoed Armstrong’s comment, saying that Bromfield’s “offensive firepower” was surprising. He said the Trojans’ play made it difficult for his team to defend against them.
After presentation of the state championship trophy, the players surrounded Coach Tom Hill chanting “Hill-ee, Hill-ee.” The match was Hill’s final game after 41 years of coaching soccer at Bromfield, which included 20 central Massachusetts championships. In a written statement he handed to reporters, Hill praised the dedication of the players, their parents, Assistant Coach Alex Horne, and subvarsity Coaches Nathanial Adleson and Chris Marrese, saying that cumulatively their commitment led to the team’s victory. He also credited the 28 players for the team’s chemistry, talent, and determination. With all of this and the leadership of co-captains Jack Armstrong and Riley Fitzsimmons, the team was able to achieve its season-long goal of winning a state championship.
The 2017 boys soccer Division 4 state champions pose for a photo after the game. Kneeling from left: Coach Tom Hill, Will Armstrong, Jake Catalina, Patrick Flanagan, Charlie Pappas, Tom Khuu, Pasha Sahin, Matt Canning, and Ethan Fitzsimmons. Second row: Dmitri Dutkewych, Charlie Bardenheuer, Shane Bilodeau, Ryell deRuijter, Jack Armstrong, and Marcos Lora. Back row: Coach Chris Marrese, Colin Murphy, Jack Donaldson, Sean Leisure, Kyle Schoenberg, Reilly Fitzsimmons, Jon Gall, Matthew Thornton, Mischa deRuijter, Rory VanDorpe, Jack Allen, Ryan Glazier, Alex Jorgensen, Brad Hendricks, Austin Franklin, Coach Alex Horne, and Nathaniel Adelson. (Photo by Lisa Aciukewicz)
“These kids worked their tails off” this season, Hill said in a post-game interview, adding that the team is “one of my all-time favorite groups.” Assistant Coach Horne, himself a Bromfield graduate and former player, will be Bromfield’s head boys varsity soccer coach next year.
Fiona Morrison is a Bromfield sophomore.
John Osborn contributed to this article.
