Bruins Feeling Good Despite South River Setback

The triumvirate of public school boys lacrosse in Anne Arundel County has been Severna Park, Broadneck, South River. Sometimes in that order, sometimes with the first two inverted.

Broadneck’s first real test of the 2025 season, though, came at the hands of that third name.

And though South River delivered a reality check with a 6-5 double-overtime win over the Bruins on April 4, Broadneck is feeling pretty good about the team’s development.

Having graduated so many seniors from last year’s state finalist team, the Bruins are young at every position. That talent is gaining experience that should prove well in the long run. Against South River, nothing was quite right offensively, and Broadneck never led. But they rallied from two goals down in the final minutes to force the extra periods and had multiple opportunities to win.

“That’s adversity,” said Broadneck coach Jeff McGuire. “I was super proud. We were sitting down 2-0, sitting down 4-2. Just happy to see what we’re made of six games in, and being able to battle.

“It’s minor details on defense and minor details on offense, and guys just doing disciplined things all the way.”

The Bruins have developed a multiple attack, supplementing seniors Blake Levicki and Brayden Schmidt with freshmen Wyatt Hicks and Braden Cornett. Hicks had three goals against South River, while Cornett missed the game due to injury.

That may have thrown Broadneck’s offense off a bit, but McGuire appeared unconcerned, as in the long run it will lead to more guys with experience at the end of the season.

Defensively the Bruins have proven stingy, with senior defenders Noah Yoder and Donovan Boyer helping anchor the rearguard with sophomore goalie Braedon Goloboski, and defensive midfielders Wyatt Shaw and Grayson Boone.

It was Boone who drew the tough assignment of guarding one of the best attackers in the county, South River’s Trevor Phipps. Boone kept Phipps largely in check on the night.

“(Boone) was definitely up to the test, and anyone watching this film might want to nab up Grayson as quick as they can,” McGuire said. “He’s our best cover guy, and that’s why we put him on Phipps.”

Broadneck’s schedule beefs up even more after the South River game. Next is a trip to Cape Henlopen (Delaware), followed by Severna Park’s visit on April 11. Then they play two of the tougher public schools in Virginia.

“That’s not an easy run right now,” McGuire said. “But this is playoff-like, though, which teaches us an early lesson.”