Ethan Russo (#11) of Bromfield jumps for a header against Tyngsborough on Tuesday. (Photos by Charlie Rubin)
The Bromfield boys soccer squad shut out the Tyngsborough Tigers 5-0 in a physical, penalty-prone game at home last Thursday, Sept. 14. It was their first shutout of the season and their third straight league win.
“Today’s a very good day,” Coach Alex Horne told his players as they gathered after the game. Any day the team scored five goals was a good one, Horne said, though he thought they could have doubled that number.
Ethan Russo was first to score on a pass from co-captain Brendan Listzwan. Listzwan, credited with three assists, and Ryan Donahoe, credited with one, each scored twice. First-year goalie and co-captain Luke Maclean earned the shutout with four saves. Backup goalie Max Barrague had his first save of the season, smothering a Tiger shot on goal in the final minutes of the game.
The game was physical from the start. The Harvard Park field was slick in spots from the previous day’s downpour, contributing to the afternoon’s slips and tumbles. Listzwan had to temporarily leave the game towards the end of the first half after being elbowed in the ribs by a Tigers defender. One Tyngsborough player and the team’s coach received yellow cards.
Bromfield dominated possession for most of the game but failed to capitalize on several opportunities, including two corner kicks and a half-dozen counterattacks ruled offside. But for the first time this season the team won the game’s second half, 2-0, holding the Tigers scoreless. In their matches against Tahanto and Littleton, the Trojans had let their opponents erase much of their first-half lead, narrowing the team’s final margin of victory and lowering the team’s standing in its league.
“I like that we were able to keep a clean sheet today,” co-captain Listzwan told the Press after the game.” I feel like that’s what we’ve been lacking this entire season. We can [put] a bunch of goals on the board, but we’ve been conceding a lot of goals. Today … [we were] able to keep the other team at zero instead of letting in a sneaky one or two [goals], especially in the second half.”
Coach Horne had praise for co-captain Maclean, in his first year as starting goalie. “I think he’s turning into a natural leader on the field,” said Horne. “He made some big plays and is really becoming a top communicator in the back.”
With a 3-1 season record, Bromfield ranked third in the Midland-Wachusett C League, behind Oakmont and Tahanto, as it prepared for this week’s games against Maynard and Quabbin Regional. In the away match against Maynard this week, the Trojans lost, 3-2.
Jacob Dwight (#4) runs upfield against Tyngsborough’s Logan Walsh.
Bromfield’s Brendan Listzwan (#10) battles for possesion vs. Tyngsborough.
