Lacrosse Wins Second Conference Crown

Brunswick rolled over Berkshire by a 13-5 margin on Saturday, capping the 2017 season with an undefeated run through the ultra-competitive New England West 1 conference. The league title is the first since 2014 for the Bruins, as Brunswick (15-1, 11-0) finishes the season on an impressive 15-game winning streak.

 

Every senior in uniform, except faceoff specialist Ben Shapiro, scored for the Bruins during the title-clinching win for head coach David Bruce and company. Brunswick entered the game ranked eighth nationally by Inside Lacrosse-Under Armour and fifth in the nation by the USA Today Super 25 poll.

 

After the game, coach Bruce reflected on the championship season.

 

“This was a special group of boys,” said Bruce. “The offense gelled quickly despite a bunch of new faces, and the defense played at an incredible level despite early injuries. [Patrick] Burkinshaw stepped into the cage, and quickly proved to be one of the best goalies in the country. On top of it all, the kids loved each other, and they loved the work. There isn't a team in recent memory that had more fun practicing together.”

 

The Bruins jumped out to a 4-0 lead after one quarter, as Max Metalios, Jimmy Heidt, Alex Buckanavage and James Baccile all tallied solo markers. Xander Dickson added two assists during the burst.

 

Following a Berkshire goal to open the second quarter, Brunswick blew the game open with five more goals, taking a 9-1 lead into the intermission. Buckanavage tacked on two more tallies for a hat-trick, while John Fox netted two goals and Heidt added another marker.

 

Will Bergstein opened the third quarter with a goal, followed by a Sean Morris solo tally that bumped the Bruins’ lead to 11-1. Following a pair of Berkshire goals, Spencer Decker and Morris bracketed a Berkshire goal to finish the scoring in the third quarter.

 

With the Bruins holding a commanding 13-4 lead to start the fourth quarter, Berkshire netted the final goal of the game, but Brunswick cruised to the 13-5 win and the conference championship.

 

Burkinshaw finished the game with nine saves, while back-up goalie Christian Barnard made five saves for the Bruins. Shapiro finished his Brunswick career with a dominating day at the face-off X, winning 16/20 attempts on the day.

 

Brunswick  4 5 4 0 -13

Berkshire   0 1 3 1 - 5

 

Brunswick scoring (G,A)