Broadneck earned the right to defend its 4A state lacrosse title, routing Perry Hall in Friday's state semifinal, led by James Smack's 5 goals.
Last year’s postseason forced Broadneck boys lacrosse through a gauntlet of close, ferocious games. This spring, the Bruins outscored opponents by more than 50 goals in the playoffs even before dropping an 18-goal win on Perry Hall in their Class 4A state semifinal.
But with a chance to defend the 4A state title on the horizon, Broadneck can’t afford to grow complacent. So, as the boys stepped off their bus on Friday, they had to play pretend.
The Gators wear blue and yellow shades, similar to rival Severna Park. The game was held on the Falcons’ field as a neutral site. Close enough.
“We just wanted to stick a few on our rival,” said James Smack, who stuck five, all in the second half, in the 21-3 demolition of the Gators.
Maintaining that intensity will be paramount to Broadneck’s chances against an Urbana team gunning for revenge next week. Urbana is coming off its 14-3 semifinal win over Winston Churchill.
“They’re probably mad from when we beat them in overtime,” Smack said referencing last year’s 9-8 state semifinal win. “Their energy will be high, which means ours needs to be, too.”
Broadneck coach Jeff McGuire front-loaded the season with pressure, from Severna Park and South River to visiting out-of-state powerhouses and couldn’t lie. There were times, he said, where the dream of repeating a state title dimmed.
The goal of those early tests were to iron out fixable flaws at the highest heat setting — and it worked. Turnovers and other errors that cost Broadneck the first Severna Park game, and could have done the same with the Seahawks the week earlier, have not been so present in these recent weeks. Even Friday, Broadneck only gave up seven turnovers, some that can easily be attributed when the starters left the field for the last time in the second and third quarters.
“After the SP game, we met as a group and I feel like we were able to calm down and get things together,” senior Tanner Boone said. “And it’s been showing.”
Even as the schedule mellowed through the remainder of the season, as well as the last several rounds of the playoffs, the Bruins forced themselves to continue making believe. Practices resembled a pre-rival game. Film sessions continued every day. Broadneck scouted every team like a playoff opponent.
On Thursday, McGuire coached the scout team and had them unleash everything he had upon his starters. After experiencing that kind of fiery environment day in and day out, most opponents — including Perry Hall — feel like a mild breeze in comparison.
But the Gators did manage to unsettle Broadneck briefly. It’s rare that the Bruins plays against zone defense, so when the attacks found themselves entangled in one early, they passed more than they shot. When they did, nine of them landed in Perry Hall goalkeeper Alex Swain’s webbing. The Bruins aimed their attacks too high, even let the Gators sweep one the errant ones back for a tying goal at 1-1.
“You’re swinging them around and it’s not doing anything,” McGuire told his players. They led just 5-1 after a quarter. It was after Boone’s goal to etch a 7-1 lead early in the second that Broadneck worked their problems out. It took five passes, they noted.
“It’s just the small little details, it’s the spacing on picks, where you’re shooting,” McGuire said. “Those little adjustments.”
The Bruins rained fire upon their opponents. By halftime, senior Liam Komlosy’s third goal made it 13-2 and primed the reigning champs for a running clock soon into the second half.
The second half became Smack’s domain.
The senior filled in for injured starters early in the season. Those difficult trials forged the unrelenting strikes he unleashed on Friday: three goals in the third quarter alone and an assist on another one of Boone’s, earning him the team’s “blue collar” award.
“I couldn’t really catch the ball to save my life,” Smack admitted, “but I just got in the right spots to complete it. At this point, I’m making the most of my opportunities.”
Perry Hall — 1 1 0 1 — 3
Broadneck — 5 8 4 4 — 21
Goals: BN — Smack 5, Hicks 4, Boone 3, Komlosy 3, Schmidt 1, Hartman 1, Goldstein 1, Stewart 1, Pierce 1; PH — Schattall 2, Bittings 1; Assists: Boone 3, Hicks 2, Smack 1, Komlosy 1, Levicki 1, Schmidt 1; Saves: PH — Swain 9; BN — Tettemer 1
