Broadneck High Lacrosse Off to a Great Start

After a pair of successful 2010 campaigns, the Broadneck boys and girls lacrosse teams will rely on defensive units to improve this year. County play began Friday as the Bruins hosted Glen Burnie. Both teams were victorious.

Girls Lacrosse

The Lady Bruins don't like to talk about how 2010 ended, falling to the eventual state champion South River at the regional final, in double overtime. After a 15-3 season last year, Broadneck girls lacrosse returns a stout defense in an effort to finish the job this season.

Senior Julia Burns returns to the goal to headline a defense that will need to stay strong as a young Bruin attack develops.

"I think Julia, as I say every year, is going to have to come up with big saves in the big games," coach Karen Tengwall said.

Seniors Alli Dawson and Paige Duncan will control the midfield, while fellow senior Lexi Bristow will line up in front of Burns in defense. Dawson, Duncan, Bristow and Burns have all committed to Division 1 lacrosse programs for next fall.

"Alli Dawson is just a tough, feisty player," Tengwall said. 

The Lady Bruins still have a few kinks to iron out as the regular season progresses, but Tengwall is confident those will be straightened out with the help of her seniors. Tengwall is also confident the midfield will be able to hold possession well enough to get the younger attacking players plenty of looks at goal as they develop.

"I think the leadership in our seniors is great. I think that's going to be a big benefit," Tengwall said.

As freshmen last season, Zoe Earnest and Kacy Koolage began to emerge as offensive threats. The sophomore pair will need to continue their progression while the defense keeps games close.

"They have come out this year with a bang," Bristow said of her sophomore teammates. "Their shooting awesome, their playing awesome."

The Broadneck used a tough preseason to ready themselves for 2011. A challenging victory over St. Mary's High School showed what this team is capable of.  

"You could see the glimpses of  potential and what we can do," Bristow said.
 
Boys Lacrosse

It's safe to say that no team in Anne Arundel County boasts more experience than the Broadneck boys lacrosse team. Coach Clay White, now in his 26th season, is the longest tenured coach in the county. And this year's Bruin squad has nine seniors with four years of varsity lacrosse experience.

"It's rare," White said. "To have that many freshmen down there four years ago, that's a pretty special thing." 

Leading that group will be defender Cameron Rowe, a three-time All-County player, and attackman/midfielder James Mullis, the team's leading goal scorer the last two years.

"Cameron Rowe is the heart and soul of the defense," White said. "The strength of our team is that we have a veteran defense. That is without a doubt a strength."

Rowe is expected to lead a group that should give opposing offenses fits all season. Seniors James Ott, James Dunn and Ronnie VanMeter will help round out the Bruin defense.

Along with a talented defense, Broadneck returns much of its scorers from last season. Mullis will be counted on to score a lot of goals again, but seniors Mark Brashears, Antonio Mazzeo and Colin Rowe have all proven to be quality goal scorers in the past.

"I think we're ready. We've got some little things to work on, but so does every other team in the county," Mullis said.

Mazzeo led the Bruins in assists last season and White expects another big offensive year from him.

"Our group has shown an ability to correct mistakes from one scrimmage to the next and from a practice to the next scrimmage. If they keep that learning curve going, we'll be pretty excited about where we're headed. We've got to just focus on the process. That's what we've been talking about all preseason and winning the day. Sell out each day and good things are going to happen," White said.

With a lot of experience and depth at many positions, if Broadneck can get firing on all cylinders, there's no telling how far the Bruins will go this season.