Lacrosse Preview

The lacrosse team, under the tutelage of 11th year head coach David Bruce, continues to set a high standard for success in the ultra-competitive New England West 1 (NEW1) conference. Heading into the 2017 season, coach Bruce and his Bruins, ranked 11th in the latest Inside Lacrosse national poll, look to improve on an impressive 2016 campaign, when Brunswick finished 15-3.
 
Bruce, with an overall record of 125-49, will be working with an experienced coaching staff, including 13-year varsity assistant Brendan Gilsenan, Rob Follansbee (eighth year), along with second year coaches Dave Earl and Chris Cercy and first-year coach Will Casterano.

Following up a strong second-place finish in the NEW1 last year, Bruce reflected on the rigorous schedule and how the returning players learned from it.

Last season was an incredible season, which only felt a bit low due to how high expectations have become for our team,” Bruce said. “At the end of the day, though, we went 15-3 against one of the toughest schedules in the country, and we’ll look to do even better this season.”

Bruce noted that the challenging conference and non-conference games will test his team, but if things go right, Brunswick will make a splash on the national stage.

“We want to finish number one in the country,” noted the coach. “It’s a lofty goal, and only one team can do it, but that’s where we are as a program. That said, we could play fantastically this season and have five losses. That’s just how it is with the schedule we put together.”

Bruce, the 2014 NEW1 Coach of the Year, has a number of key returners, including his three captains, attackman Alex Buckanavage and midfielders Sean Morris and John Fox. The trio of seniors were each tabbed as all-league players last season.

Buckanavage led the Bruins in scoring last season with team-highs in goals (47) and assists (25). The veteran scorer leads a talented group at attack. Reflecting on the offense, coach Bruce mentioned patience for the Bruins to identify promising match-ups to exploit to get ideal shots on goal.

Morris, a midfielder, netted 21 goals and dished out seven helpers in his junior campaign a season ago.

Fox, a captain as a junior last year, is a talented two-way player as a midfielder. Following a solid offensive output in 2016 (10 goals, 10 assists), the two-time captain is noted as a fierce defender with a short stick.

Defensively, the Bruins return four players with starting experience. Seniors Max Metalios and Brendan Forst, along with juniors Wilson Stephenson and Chris Burdick, should be a comforting sight for the Brunswick goalies, including junior Patrick Burkinshaw.

Face-off specialist Ben Shapiro also returns for Brunswick. The senior won 210/334 attempts (.629) at the X, while vacuuming-up a staggering 82 groundballs to lead the Bruins a year ago.

The Bruins open their 2017 season on the road, facing sixth-ranked Landon (Va.) on Friday, March 24.
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    • Alex Buckanavage

    • John Fox and coach David Bruce

Brunswick School Greenwich, CT

  • Upper School
    100 Maher Avenue
    Office: 203.625.5856

    Lower School
    1252 King Street
    Office: 203.485.3670
  • Middle School
    1275 King Street
    Office: 203.242.1202

    Pre School
    1252 King Street
    Office: 203.485.3652

Main Phone: 203.625.5800
Business: 203.242.1220 
Alumni: 203.242.1223