Bruin Boys Reach Fifth Straight State Final

In the aftermath of the 4A boys lacrosse state championship game, Broadneck coach Jeff McGuire balanced perspectives: the Bruins continued one of the most successful runs in program history by reaching the title game for a fifth straight year, but for the third time running they were left scratching their heads.

Urbana took the trilogy title match just like they had the previous two, beating Broadneck 14-3 to put a bow on the high school lacrosse season in Maryland.

Keaton Walker’s faceoff prowess was one area of dominance for the Bruins, who controlled 15 of the game’s 21 draws. But Urbana’s quick start, scoring the game’s first seven goals, meant the game was over as a contest practically as soon as it started.

“They’re a very skilled, talented team, and the more talented team won tonight,” McGuire said. “At the same time, I feel like we made some uncharacteristic plays, and it felt like the first Severna Park game. They get two goals, three goals, and you finally get one, but you look up at the scoreboard and it’s 7-1, and you’re like, ‘How did we get here?’”

Wyatt Hicks, Aiden Gillette and Pierce Joyce netted the goals for the Bruins.

The loss served as a rough end to a run that saw Broadneck reel off four straight double-digit victories in the playoffs. They beat Annapolis 16-3 and Glen Burnie 22-2 to win the 4A East I region championship, before taking out Bethesda-Chevy Chase 23-7 in the quarterfinals and blanking Montgomery Blair 21-0 in the semis.

Despite the third successive title game defeat, the Bruins sent their seniors out in the final game possible for the fifth year running. They’ll bid farewell to 13 seniors, including Walker, Gillette, Chris Fraser, Matthew Shafer, Brady Dement, Wyatt Shaw, Carson Pierce, Jack Josephs, Luke Doyle, Joe Brenner, Evan Zelinsky, Oliver Szurek and James Banwell.

“This program works hard and we have a real family environment, and to put the seniors on this stage is a great thing,” McGuire said. “It can get frustrating if you think about it being one (championship) out of five, but if that’s the only way you measure success, we’re not coaching for the right reason. … And as I said a couple of years ago, if 15-5 is a bad year, then you’re in a pretty good place.”