Junior Kelsey L’Ecuyer takes a shot on goal. (Photos by Lisa Aciukewicz)
With the first two games of the season behind them, the Bromfield girls’ soccer team is undefeated. Their most recent victory came Monday afternoon with a 5-1 win over Tahanto Regional High School at Harvard Park and followed an equally lopsided 5-0 game against Hopedale last week.
In Monday’s game, the Trojans dominated Tahanto throughout the first half. The first goal was scored by junior Sophia Turchetta. Minutes later, sophomore Kaeli Armstrong powered a second goal into the back right corner of the net.
Throughout the half, the ball traveled from end to end as the two teams waged an aggressive defensive battle. The Tahanto goalie saved eight shots keeping her team in the game, but the Trojans’ defense was equally persistent in keeping the ball out of the net and holding the halftime score at 2-0.
The second half began with bang. Both teams fought hard for possession of the ball. Even though Bromfield remained dominant, Tahanto managed to score a goal on a shot to the bottom left corner of the net, putting their team on the scoreboard for the first time.
Senior Sofia Catalina dribbles through her Hopedale opponents.
Soon after Tahanto’s goal, Bromfield freshman Sarah Moore took control of the ball and got off a power shot to the top left corner of the net, eluding the hands of Tahanto’s goalie. Moore’s goal raised the score to 3-0 Bromfield. Later junior Kelsey L’Ecuyer motored down the left side of the field and took a strong shot across the net to the bottom right corner. The Tahanto goalie dove but just missed it, making the score 4-1 Bromfield.
Within the last five minutes of the game, Moore took a shot on goal that was saved by the Tahanto goalie only to have Bromfield sophomore Sarah Doben come in for the rebound to score Bromfield’s fifth and final goal.
Bromfield’s defense remained strong throughout the game, and the Trojans were able to keep the ball at Tahanto’s end of the field. With her teammates keeping the ball away from her hands, Bromfield goalie Meghanne Fitzsimmons had only two saves.
A victorious opening game
The team’s opening game, which took place last Thursday against Hopedale at Harvard Park, was also a win for Bromfield with a score of 5-0.
The game did not start out in the Trojans’ favor. Traditionally one of the stronger teams in the league, the Hopedale offense was relentless and kept the ball in Bromfield’s half for the first quarter of the game. The Blue Raiders fired several shots at the net, but none was successful.
At the 20-minute mark, junior Sophia Turchetta powered a shot into the Hopedale net for the game’s first goal. Energized by the turn of events, the Trojans picked up the pace with continued attempts on the Hopedale goal.
After receiving the ball outside the 18-yard line, Moore scored another goal for Bromfield, shooting the ball into the top portion of Hopedale’s net.
L’Ecuyer dominated the second half of the game, scoring three goals for the Trojans.
“Everyone on the team played really well,” senior captain Olivia Phillips told the Press, following the Hopedale game. “[It] will be good to see the team improve as [the season] goes on.”
The Trojans, now 2-0 after winning both games since the start of the season last week, will continue their season Wednesday night at Lunenburg.
Carlisle Ferguson is a junior at the Bromfield School and a member of the girls’ varsity soccer team. Julia Hoggins is a senior at the Bromfield School.
