by Anonym ·
Friday, November 11, 2016
by John Osborn
The Bromfield boys soccer team suffered its first defeat of the season this afternoon, losing 2–1 to the Sutton Sammies in the Central Division 4 finals. The noontime match was played under partly cloudy skies before a an estimated 250 Harvard and Sutton fans who filled two-thirds of the stands at Nashoba Regional High School’s main field.
Despite a valiant attempt to block the shot, goalkeeper Austin “Frankie” Franklin was unable to stop a kick to the top corner of the goal. (Photos by Lisa Aciukewicz)
Throughout the game, the wind was an uninvited player. The National Weather Service forecast northwest winds of 15 to 25 mph and gusts of up to 50 mph in the area, and the American flag at the far end of the field stood at attention for most of the match.
With the wind at their backs during the first half, the Trojans controlled the ball and dominated Sutton for most of the period. The team’s only goal was scored 23 minutes into the game on a long free kick by senior co-captain Colin Grant from the left side of the field, with what appeared to be an assist from the wind that sent the ball curving into the far upper corner of the net.
During the second half, however, the wind favored the Sammies who used it to their advantage, lofting balls deep into Trojan territory. The first of Sutton’s two goals came about 12 minutes into the half when junior Nick Evangeline headed the ball just beyond the hands of Bromfield goalie Austin Franklin on a pass from senior co-captain McKenzie Clark. Barely two minutes later, Evangeline scored the second and winning goal on a long corner kick.
Despite playing an aggressive game, senior Omar Al Homsi watches as yet another scoring attempt ends up wide of the goal.
As the clock ticked down, the Trojans fought back and came close to evening the score in the final two minutes of play when Grant got off a shot from midfield that struck just under the Sutton goal’s top bar, but then bounced back into play.
“It was a disappointing way to end the season,” said Bromfield coach Tom Hill. “We’re not an ‘air’ team, and Sutton was able to take better advantage of the wind when it favored them than we were.” But, he added, the team had played hard and well. “You left everything you had on the field,” he told the players in their final huddle.