Broadneck Boys Advance on Penalty Kicks in Soccer Playoffs

Goals are always at a premium when Arundel High and get together for a soccer match. So, it should be no surprise that the latest meeting between the two school went to penalty kicks.

After 100 minutes of scoreless soccer, the two teams went to a seventh kick when a blast down the middle of the goal by freshman Tyler Gabarra sent the Bruins past Arundel, 4-3, on penalty kicks in a MPSSAA 4A East region quarterfinal matchup.

"Just keep cool and stay calm. Just clear everything out of your mind and finish the ball," Gabarra said.

Broadneck, , will now advance to the regional semifinal against Severna Park on Friday.

"As a freshman, he's already one of our best soccer players," Tettemer said. "He did a great job of stepping forward and putting it in."

A harsh tackle resulting in a yellow card on Broadneck's David Keen set up a dangerous free kick for Arundel midway through the first half. The Wildcats' Glenn McKenzie redirected the kick, but the shot was swallowed up .

The Wildcat attack was held in check as the second half began. Arundel did not muster a shot for 13 minutes, as Broadneck threatened with five shots and two corner kicks in that same time.

"They're a very organized defensive team. They're hard to break down [and] they're one of the best we'll see," Niedermeier said. "We've just got to keep working. That's all we can do."

After 62 minutes of play, Lee sprung Logan McCarron toward goal for a one-on-one showdown with Niedermeier, but the Bruin netminder deflected the shot for a Wildcat corner kick.

As regulation ended without either team finding the back of the net, Arundel found a similar situation as Keith Grassel got behind the Broadneck defense in search of the game's first goal. Yet again, Niedermeier denied the Wildcats on another scoring opportunity.

One hundred minutes of scoreless play meant that the game would need to be settled by penalty kicks.

"Unless someone got something on a corner or a throw-in, it was probably going to be bound for that," Broadneck coach Sean Tettemer said.

Playing to a best-of-five penalty kicks, Arundel and Broadneck finished tied at three after ten kicks. Luke Dellorso, Loic Barret and Brandon Hanger connected on Broadneck's the first three kicks before Niedermeier and Austin Maxwell missed the goal.

Now in a best-of-one situation, Niedermeier saved McKenzie's effort and Zach Palmer had his shot blocked by Tyler Wilson.

Arundel's Max Conant then was denied on his shot.

"He's an incredible goalie," Wilson said about his counterpart, Niedermeier. "The kid's phenomenal."

Gabarra then blasted his kick down the middle, as Wilson guessed incorrectly, and Broadneck booked a trip to the next round of the playoffs. Gabarra turned to his team after the winning kick and was mobbed in celebration.

"I knew he was going to sink it," Niedermeier said with a confident smile.

The Bruins will travel to Severna Park on Friday, for the region semi-final. Game time is scheduled for 7 p.m.

"Broadneck is a hell of a team. Very, very well-coached. [I have] a lot of respect for that program over there. Every time we get together it's an epic match," Arundel coach Mike McCarron said.