Sports

​​​​​​​Perennial rival Sutton defeats Bromfield to end Trojan boys' quest for state soccer title

The Bromfield boys soccer team lost its Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association semifinal match to Sutton 3-1 in a Monday night away game under the lights of Doyle Stadium in Worcester.

“It’s a huge rivalry that goes back many, many years, even before my time,” said Sutton head coach Mike Elster in a postgame interview. “I have a tremendous amount of respect for [Bromfield’s] coaching staff. They have great players, and it’s always a battle, always a war.”

Monday night’s game was no exception, one of the most physical of Bromfield’s 2024 season. Sutton drew 11 fouls and Bromfield eight, most in the second half. Bromfield junior back Jake O’Neil drew a yellow card as did Sutton junior forward Sean Venuti and freshman forward Jacob Gerardi. The game was stopped a half-dozen times for injuries.

Bromfied goalkeeper Jacob Dangel deflects a shot on goal by Sutton’s Sean Venuti. It was a busy night for Dangel, who had six saves, and the rest of the Trojan defense. (Photos by Lisa Aciukewicz)

Sutton had the edge in ball handling, frustrating Bromfield’s attacks, getting through Bromfield’s defenders, and blitzing the Trojans with 17 shots, 12 in the first half, compared to Bromfield’s five for the entire game. Bromfield’s junior goalie, Jacob Dangel, had six saves.

The Sammies scored their first goal seven minutes into the game on a corner kick—one of five in the first half—launched into the Bromfield box by Sutton sophomore midfielder Matthew Mulderig and headed into the net by junior forward Sean Venuti.

Bromfield senior midfielder Vasilis Psathas evened the score, 1-1, with less than five minutes remaining in the half, on a cross from junior forward Conor Glew.

Sutton’s final two goals came in the second half, the first by junior Kyle Kolovsky and the final by Venuti, whose shot was first saved by Bromfield’s Dangel. But with the goalie on the ground, Venuti found the rebounding ball and booted it into the net.

Conor Glew (#2) wins the header for Bromfield.

An offside call derailed at least one promising Bromfield counter in the frantic final 15 minutes of the game. O’Neil had successfully dribbled up Bromfield’s left side and served the ball to Conor Glew, who had headed past Sutton sophomore goalie, Isaac Bradley. But the play was called back when referees ruled Glew had been offside. When the final whistle blew, Sutton remained on top, 3-1.

“I thought we were flat, always chasing shadows,” Coach Alex Horne said after the game. “Chasing shadows” is a soccer expression, he said, that means being unable to catch or compete with a better or faster player. Added Tom Hill, assistant coach, “Sutton got to the ball first. That makes all the difference.”

Senior co-captain Psathas said he didn’t think he or the team had played their best game, but he said he was proud of what he and his teammates had been able to accomplish, making it to the semifinals for a second straight year in spite of losing their star player, Brendan Listzwan. “We didn’t know how we were gonna adapt,” he said. But they did.

“Bromfield played us well,” said Sutton’s Coach Elster, “but they just didn’t really get to have the ball as much as probably they’re used to having it. … The score shows three to one, but you know, it’s anyone’s game when we play each other.”

When Sutton and Bromfield last met on Oct. 29 to decide who would take home the Central Mass Class C championship trophy, the Sammies won 2-1. Two years ago, in November 2022, Bromfield beat Sutton 3-1 to win its fifth straight MIAA Division 5 state championship.

“Sutton’s a really good team,” said Horne. “I give them a lot of credit. I hope they bring the [Division 5 state] title back to Central Mass.”

The Trojans start the night airborne and in high spirits. 

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