The Northbridge Rams came within moments of a berth in the Division 4 final but were eliminated by Rockland in a penalty-kick shootout following a hard-fought semifinal that ended in a draw. Northbridge entered the match as the No. 8 seed after a solid 9-4-5 regular season and a late surge that included a 3-0 opening-round win over Mt. Greylock and a 1-0 second-round victory at Tyngsborough.
The quarterfinal tested both teams’ resolve. Northbridge struck twice through Colby Trudeau, who finished with both of the Rams’ goals and again demonstrated why he is a difference-maker for this program. Rockland answered each time, and the match went to extra time with neither side able to find a winner.
The drama extended into a shootout, where Rockland prevailed 4-3. It was a heartbreaking end for the Rams and their supporters, but the performance carried plenty of positives. Northbridge showed grit, tactical discipline, and a willingness to compete with one of the bracket’s top teams. The season will be remembered as progress for a program that pushed a higher-seeded opponent to the very limit, and the experience should provide valuable lessons for the group next year.
