No Answer for Turchetta; Bromfield Sophomore Scores 11

In a Central/West Division 2 Semi-final girls' lacrosse game, sophomore Sophia Turchetta scored 11 goals, the last with 2 seconds left to boost Bromfield (19-1) to a come from behind 14-13 win over Groton-Dunstable (13-9).

First half goals from Olivia Aumis, Sophia Irby, Niki Wilkinson, Livy Rubeski, Livy Penney (2), Sara Walsh (3) had GD up 9-6 at the break while Turchetta had five of her team's six scores.

Crusaders led 11-7 early in second half but Turchetta was unstoppable scoring five unanswered goals to give the Trojans a 12-11 lead.

Penney stopped the run, knotting score at 12-12 with a wicked shot that Bromfield keeper Julia Hoggins (12 saves) never moved on. Bromfield's Jackie Planchet (3 goals, 2 assists) beat Maria Antonellis low to her right but Sara Walsh's fourth goal of the contest tied game at 13-13 with less than six minutes remaining

With 3:23 left, Bromfield went into control mode, cycling the ball with short, deliberate passes taking seconds and then minutes off the clock. With 10 seconds remaining, Turchetta made her move, firing a laser from the left side, 15 to 18 yards out ,that just slipped under the cross bar.  Livy Penney had three goals and two assists and Nicole Wilkinson added two scores. A heart breaking loss for the Crusaders.

Quarterfinal: G-D 25, Nipmuc 12

Livy Penney scored six goals and added an assist, while Nicki Wilkinson (3 assists) and Liv Rubeski (2 assists) each scored five goals as 4th-seeded Crusaders (12-7) topped 5th-seeded Warriors (11-8-1).

Crusaders led 16-7 at the break but Warriors outscored Lady Cs 5-1 opening the second half and trailed 17-12 with 18 minutes left in regulation. Coach Valacer called a time out.

Wilkinson, Penney and Rubeski took over, each scoring multiple goals to dash any hopes of a Nipmuc comeback.

"Shelly and Becca Herlihy gave defense a big lift and offensively Nicki (Wilkinson), Liv (Rubeski) and Livy (Penney) made it happen in the second half," smiled Valacer.

Sophie Irby had three goals and three assists for the Crusaders.

BOYS LACROSSE

Quarterfinal: GD 10, Ashland

8                                                                                                                 

In a Central/East Division 3 quarterfinal lacrosse game, Quintin Forbes scored 3 goals and had 2 assists as G-D (11-8) hung on to defeat Ashland, 10-8. Crusaders led 9-4 starting the fourth quarter. Ryan Dodge (2) Nick Irby (2), Zach Cotoni (2) and Austin Hourani  (goal and assist) scored for GD. PJ Kendall made 14 saves. Ryan Heinser won 16 faceoffs. G-D played Arlington Catholic (14-5) Wednesday at 4 p.m. in a Semi-final game.

SOFTBALL

Shrewsbury 11, GD 0                                                                                                                            

Senior Molly Dickinson (3 for 4, scoring 2 runs, 2 RBIs) and freshman Taylor Dunphy (3 for 4, scoring 2 runs, 2 RBIs) led the 17 hit attack for Shrewsbury while junior Elise Lacasse  limited Crusaders to three hits while striking out 10  to lead No. 7 Shrewsbury(13-8) to a 11-0 win over visiting No. 10 Groton-Dunstable (10-11) in an MIAA Central Division 1 first round game.

A pitchers' dual through first two innings turned into rout. Colonials scored an unearned run in home half of third and broke the game open in fourth, plating four runs.

Lacasse retired 13 in a row while her team banged out 17 hits. In fifth inning, Shrewsbury added six more runs and that was that!

"We won our last five games to get here. Our seniors provided really good leadership and helped pull the freshmen and sophomores together. It is so satisfying to see the growth in the players' understanding the game, personal improvement. It is why we coach."

Shrewsbury's glee was short-lived as Colonials went on to lose 10-6 to No. 2 St. Peter-Marian in a Quarterfinal game on Monday.