Standing between a hard-charging Reading Memorial High School field hockey forward and the Belmont High School cage, Zoe Bruce plotted her approach.
The sophomore goalkeeper once feared moments like these, alone with an opponent, pressure mounting by the second. Now, she embraces them. Bruce approached at the right time, stepped out, and stopped the momentum, negating a scoring opportunity to preserve the one-goal margin in a key early-season victory over a Middlesex League rival.
“Last year, I would’ve been terrified and unsure what to do,” Bruce said. “This year, I can confidently pick a move and execute it.”
The Marauders (8-1 as of Monday) boast a star-studded roster headlined by two Division I commits, but it’s Bruce, a relative novice goalkeeper, who plays as big a role as anyone. She stepped into the starting role as a freshman last fall, and as a sophomore, has become one of the region’s more reliable netminders.
Ranked fifth in the MIAA Division I Power Rankings published on Oct. 3, Belmont is among the top teams in the state. The top 32 teams qualify for the tournament, and teams ranked 33 and below with a .500 or better mark go to a play-in round. The Boston Globe ranked the Marauders No. 4 in Eastern Massachusetts in its most recent poll, and The Boston Herald slotted Belmont in at No. 7 statewide.
Belmont’s hope for a deep tournament run hinge on a strong season from Bruce, who’s shown improvement after a promising freshman campaign.
Going into last season, Belmont needed a new goalie. Coach Jess Smith talked to athletes from other sports, desperate for someone to step up. Enter Bruce, who flashed potential from the first day of tryouts with smooth movements and an advanced understanding of angles. Named the starter for the season opener, Bruce posted 12 shutouts across 20 games, helping Belmont to the tournament’s Round of 8.
Bruce, who also plays rugby, dedicated her offseason to developing as a goalkeeper. She attended numerous clinics and learned from more experienced players.
“She’s really communicating and saying the right things … she’s kind of got that language now,” Smith said. “The other thing about her is, yeah, she gets upset when she gets scored on, but she can also move past it. You really need that in a goalie.”
Bruce also honed her superstitions: tapping her stick on each post before each game and at halftime, and hitting the top of the cage with her stick before each corner.
Thus far, Belmont’s only loss came to perennial power and four-time reigning Division 3 state champion Watertown, 2-1, in the third game of the campaign. Through Belmont’s first seven games, Bruce allowed just five goals and owned four shutouts.
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“She shows a lot of confidence,” said Elsie Lakin Schultz, a junior captain and defender committed to Brown University. “She hasn’t had that much experience playing goalie, but I don’t think anyone would be able to tell.”
Bruce’s field hockey career started in seventh grade, but her first time playing goalie came the following year. Bruce hated playing goalie in soccer growing up, but the same position in field hockey just felt right. She immediately “fell in love” with the role.
“So many people have called me crazy and asked why I love it,” Bruce said. “I love the thrill of the position because there’s a lot of pressure, but it’s also such a rewarding position, too.”
And what a difference a year can make. Bruce now asks for one-on-ones at most practices. All 20 players pepper her with a variety of shots, and Bruce shows off her dives, stick-swatting, and kick saves. College is far away, but Bruce plans to look into playing at the next level.
For now, she’s focused on backing the Marauders in their quest for tournament success.
“I’m just kind of living in the moment and really appreciating high school right now,” Bruce said.
