Broadneck boys lacrosse rode a 20-0 record to its first Class 4A state title in 26 years last May. With 17 seniors, there’s no reason they can’t do it again.
The Bruins graduate key figures like Jackson Shaw, Ryan Salazar, Ryan Della and goalkeeper Colin Gray, but they’re far from rebuilding. The Bruins return All-County first team selections Braden McCassie and Albie Palsa, as well as talented faceoff specialist Graham Hartman and midfielders Eli Harris and Tyler Hicks, just to name a few.
What’s important to coach Jeff McGuire is that the team chemistry that powered the Bruins last spring is back again.
“Everyone needs to love one another and work hard for the guy next to them,” he said.
The same will fuel South River, a team to keep tabs on this spring as it takes on a schedule filled with six state champion or finalist teams. Most county coaches are keeping a particular eye on junior attack and Towson commit Trevor Phipps.
“Our offensive unit has played together for two years, we have two strong faceoff middies and are solid on the defensive side of the ball from our [long-stick midfielders] to close defense and in the goal,” coach Colin Campbell said. “And our opponents across the board are at the top tier of this county and of others. All of this should make us battle tested for a state championship run.”
Culture is a quality in flux in the county as new coaches pop up around Anne Arundel. Meade, Arundel, Glen Burnie, Archbishop Spalding, Key and, after seven-straight titles under coach Dave Earl, Severna Park.
The Falcons graduated its starting goalkeeper that committed miracles in last year’s Class 3A state championship, Ashby Shepherd, as well as a slew of defenders. Bob Zichelli, returning to the program as head coach after serving as junior varsity coach and assistant coach from 2001 through 2013, noted that his team — defense especially — will feature young players hungry to prove themselves. Like South River’s Phipps, junior attack Jack Fish has already been widely considered one of the players to watch by county coaches.
Arundel’s James McGill recognizes the challenge that two years of mammoth senior class departure brings.
“We will at times face an uphill battle due to inexperience, but we will at those times look to our leaders to do what they’re supposed to do and lead,” McGill said. “If we are to be successful this season we will have to have players embrace and find roles. Every person has a job.”
Last year’s junior varsity coach turned head varsity coach Travis Hood sees his team’s goals shooting higher this year, aided by the excited youth making up a good amount of the team.
Despite some “unknowns” on defense, North County returns a “solid foundation” of eight, predominantly underclassmen with significant varsity time under their belt. That will ideally provide necessary shield against the rockier road ahead as coach Dennis Sullivan’s hopes of his Knights’ elevation to the county’s B tier have been achieved this spring.
Chesapeake also brings back a healthy pool of experienced seniors, which is filling its coach Brian Brown with hope for the next few months.
“It will be crucial for us to get on the same page offensively early,” Brown said, “and keep the same intensity every day.”
As a small-school team, Southern hopes to use some of those titan county teams as rings of fire to prepare for a Class 1A postseason run. And according to its coach, Brendan Brace, that includes Crofton.
“I believe Crofton will be in that top tier as they start to enter into a realm where they’ve had a couple of classes there for four full years,” Brace said.
“Leadership” will be crucial for the Cardinals to do that, per four-year coach Collin Snyder. Hopefully, he said, they’ll be competitive enough to finish above .500.
On the private school side of things, new Archbishop Spalding coach Evan Hockel thinks this year has the potential to be special. The Cavaliers finished 4-11 in 2023.
“We have excellent senior leadership and mix of talented players at each position on the field,” he said. “The team has worked very hard in the offseason and are poised for a great season.”
While its midfield is thick with experienced seniors like captains Cole Kucinski and Ganon Cope, as well as defense, with players like Steve Schummer, St. Mary’s attack is led by youth. That said, its preseason showed positive signs, as well as a tough early season schedule including Gonzaga.
St. Mary’s also features a solid anchor in goal in its senior captain, UMBC commit Logan Earl.
Severn graduated a star scorer in Princeton’s Jacob Todd, but coach Joe Christie hopes to “push transition and run the field,” and that his crafty and versatile midfield line will give opposing defenses issue. Four-year starter Reid Gills will anchor from the faceoff.
In the B Conference, Indian Creek is likewise looking to replace some of its scoring, but coach Jason Werner puts faith in his defense and “one of the best goalies in the conference and county,” Ty Spencer.
“We have a competitive out of conference schedule and hope to continue to improve and build toward playing our best lacrosse in May and contend for the MIAA B Conference,” Werner said.
Key should be guided by its seasoned defense, but it’s young overall.
“We had three schools drop from the MIAA B Conference to the MIAA C Conference, making an somewhat competitive schedule even more challenging,” new coach Chris Grava said. “We are a younger team, but very hungry.”
Here’s more on each team. Please note: not every coach responded to requests for information.
Archbishop Spalding
2023: 6-12
Coach: Evan Hockel, first season
Top players: Senior Ben Duffy (M); juniors Robby Hopper (D), Jake Wolf (A), Ryan Criswell (FO); and sophomore Brady Mollot (A).
Arundel
2023: 8-6
Coach: James McGill, first season
Top players: Seniors Tyson Miller (A), Chris Walkup (A), Marc Kelly (M), Pat Connolly (M) and Jake Polucha (D); juniors Jacob Dy (A), Brayden Connolly (M), Alden Neville (M) and Jevonte Nicely (D).
Broadneck
2023 record: 20-0, Class 4A state champions
Coach: Jeff McGuire, fifth season
Top players: Seniors Eli Harris (M), Braden McCassie (M), Tyler Hicks (M), Graham Hartman (FO), Albie Palsa (D), Tyler Stewart (M), Austin Combs (D), Jed Pellicano (D), Matt Tettemer (GK) and Tanner Boone (A).
Chesapeake
2023: 9-5
Coach: Brian Brown, third season
Top players: Seniors Talan Behler (A), Tyler Jackson (D), Nathan Kruger (D), Charlie Hall (M), Chase Bivens (A) and Drake Erisman (FO).
Crofton
2023d: 7-6
Coach: Collin Snyder, fourth season
Top players: Seniors Aidan Roerick (D), Tom Gress (A/M) and Emmett Kloss (M); juniors Charlie Ross (D), Jack Boyle (D), Nate Lockard (D), Jake Schachter (M) and Chris Colman (M).
Glen Burnie
Coach: Travis Hood, first season
Top players: Seniors Nathan Huddy (LSM), Omari Payne (M) and Gio Tant (M); juniors Gavin Leisner (D), Zachary McConville (D) and Michael Dabrowski (A).
Key
Coach: Chris Grava, first season
Top players: Seniors Jameson MacDonald (D) and Owen Moyer (M); juniors Brendan Frank (A/M) and Christian Dent (G); and sophomore Tommy Donnelly (A).
Meade
2023: 0-11
Coach: Bobby Sturgell, first season
Top players: Seniors Kyle Doyle (A), Joseph Gregory (A), Cristian Solarno (A), Nick Rodriguez (A), Charles Jackson (FO), David Echeverria (M) and Niles Willis (D).
Indian Creek
2023: 6-9, MIAA B Conference semifinalists
Coach: Jason Werner, seventh season
Top players: Ty Spencer (GK), Hunter Walls (D), Tyler Stroble (M) and Aidan Evans (M); junior Liam Corson (D); sophomore Caton Crowder (A).
North County
2023: 7-8, Class 4A East Region I champions
Coach: Dennis Sullivan, seventh season
Top players: Seniors Jake McCann (M), Jonah Figeroua (D) and Thomas Chapman (FO); juniors Carter Alexander (A), Mason Waisner (A), Adam Biggs (M), Mathew Martel (M), Marcus Ortiz (M), JJ Thellman (D) and Ryan Harrigan (D).
Severn
2023: 11-6
Coach: Joe Christie, eighth season
Top players: Seniors Jackson Barroll (A), Carter Johnson (A), Andrew Beard (M), Chase Hallam (M), Bo Fowler (D), Jack Read (GK) and Reid Gills (FO); juniors Tanner Huber (M), Casey Gattie (D), Cole Morris (D); sophomore Sam Long (A).
Severna Park
2023: 16-4, Class 3A state champions
Coach: Bob Zichelli, first season
Top players: Seniors John Burkhardt (M), Tucker Moran (M), Upton Young (D) and Nolan Grizzle (M); juniors Jack Fish (A) and Timmy Sullivan (A); sophomore Joey Viskocil (D).
South River
2023: 12-4
Coach: Colin Campbell, 8th season
Top players: Seniors Nick Sweeney (D), Jack Laye (M), Gavin Phipps (M), Chase Baldwin (LSM) and James Kavney (FO); juniors Conner Campbell (G), Jake Dillon (D), Ben Adams (M), Trevor Phipps (A), Andrew Patterson (FO)
Southern
2023: 13-4; Class 1A South Region I champions
Coach: Brendan Brace, 19th season
Top players: Seniors Jordan Fanzo (A), Cody Hitchcock, Luke McCoy (D), Colton Ramey (GK), Luke Ruel (M) and Mikey McNeill (A/M); juniors Charlie Haley (A), Jett Seymour (A) and Jackson Nieman (D).
St. Mary’s
2023: 14-5
Coach: Victor Lilly, ninth season
Top players: Seniors Ganon Cope (M), Cole Kucinski (M), Owen Buczynski (M), Mitch Waynik (M), Palmer Austin (M), Caden Cunningham (LSM), Kyle Harrison, (D), Steve Schummer (D) and Logan Earl (GK); juniors Than Souza (A), Jamison McAndrews (A), Pierce Johnston Clark (M), Todd Freeman (LSM) and Gus Haas (GK); sophomores Henry Dion (A), Liam Hahn (M), Connor McAndrew (D) and Mason Kravitz (D); freshman James Brimhall (A).
