Bromfield Boys Win Fourth Straight Title

LEOMINSTER – When Bromfield’s Ryan McNulty stepped off the Assabet Valley soccer field a week ago, his team had just defeated Sutton in the semifinals of the Division 5 boys state soccer tournament. The senior captain, who has been part of two previous championship teams for the Trojans, made a proclamation about the title game.

“We’re gonna win,” he said confidently. His team would face Douglas, a rematch of the Central Mass title-match a month ago. “We’re gonna win that game!”

Fast-forward four days to the Saturday championship game. In order for McNulty to stay true to his word, he and his teammates had to find a way to break through the stifling Douglas defense. It was evident the Tigers were not going to be intimidated by the perennial champions. Both teams battled for ninety-two minutes of regulation and sudden death overtime in a tough defensive game. McNulty found it difficult for his team to mount any consistent offensive attack throughout the game.

“This was definitely a tougher Douglas team,” McNulty said. The Trojans beat the Tigers, 3-2, to win the Central Mass title in a more wide-open contest last month. “They changed up their playstyles and made it much harder for us to score. I think the biggest change was their level of high press, because even though we expected it entering the game, it still caught us by surprise. They were also man marking certain players on our team, me included, making it very difficult for us to build any offense … [It was a] very physical game the entire time.”

Bromfield senior Amlyl AitDowd. Photo by Kevin Paul Saleeba

However, in the waning moments of overtime, as fatigue set into the Tigers defenders, the Trojans found a window in Douglas’ momentary lapse in coverage. With about three minutes left in overtime, Bromfield defender Geraghty Vellante made a quick pass to midfielder Amlyl AitDowd, who made a run into the box. AitDowd’s drive caused the Douglas defense to shift and leave McNulty open. It was a fatal error for the Tigers as AitDowd quickly passed the ball to the open McNulty who finished the scoring play to win another state title for the Trojans, 1-0.

“Amlyl and I have built great chemistry over the years,” McNulty said. “The way we scored that winning goal was exactly how I set Eli Fishbein up to score a game winner in the 2019 state final two years ago. I feel like it’s just one of those plays that come with knowing each other’s positioning, and it’s just a raw reaction from there … and he used just enough on that play to slide the ball across.”

Despite their trouble generating offense, Bromfield played championship defense. Douglas averaged three goals a game this season and the Tigers had one of the top-scorers in Central Mass, Aidan Ferguson, who scored twelve goals and had ten assists on the season. He also scored seven goals in the state tournament, including a hat-trick against Granby in the second round.

“I think our backline deserves the most credit, considering the offense Douglas has, and how they kept them to zero goals,

Aiden Ferguson, the leading scorer for Douglas. Photo by Kevin Paul Saleeba

allowing the offense to get that one goal to win,” McNulty said. “Our mindset was to find a way. We didn’t play our best game, but we did just enough to get the title and we found a way in the ninety-second minute.”

AitDowd, with his six goals and eleven points during the regular season, flew under the radar for the Trojans. McNulty said AitDowd was a key cog in Bromfield’s championship machine. He assisted on some big goals for the Trojans in the postseason, including a key assist in the semifinals against Sutton. He even drew a late game foul in the box that set up McNulty’s game-winning penalty kick against Douglas in the Central Mass finals.

“Amlyl has been a huge piece of our team, being our engine in the midfield,” McNulty said. “He is an extremely crafty and skilled player … We’ve been linking up for goals all season and I’m not surprised at all that he assisted the goal.”

McNulty said scoring the game-winning goal was the best way to end his high school career. “It was definitely a night I won’t forget,” he said. “The feeling after winning a state title is unmatched, no matter how many times you win the thing, and as a senior it’s just a little bit better knowing that you ended your career with the prize.”

When asked about guaranteeing victory, McNulty said, “my mentality has always been built around confidence, whether it’s about teammates, results, [or] if I’m gonna score that night. When people at school and around town asked if we would get the win, I would say one hundred percent every single time. I just feel that coming in with confidence sets you up for success, and it worked out for us.”