BROOKLANDVILLE, Md. — Trailing by four goals with less than two minutes remaining, the USA Select U18 boys’ team scored five unanswered goals to cap day one of the Brogden Cup with a wild 13-12 win over Team Ontario.
USA Select teams kept intact their undefeated streak dating back to 2019, sweeping all eight games in the U18 and U16 boys’ and girls’ competition that also included some closely contested games with the Haudenosaunee Nationals. The streak almost came to a screeching halt, however, in the final game Saturday at St. Paul’s School.
Brian Jackman scored an extra-man goal on a lefthanded rip from the right side to put Ontario ahead 12-8. The U.S. answered with goals by Mark Cheng (1:48 mark), Hunter Panzik (1:16) and Collin Campbell (0:59) to pull within one.
“Our goalie Jimmy McCool brought us all in the huddle and was like, ‘Don’t let up, dude. Let’s keep going,’” U.S. midfielder Triston Jewell said of the team’s fourth-quarter mindset. “Coach [Steven Brooks] made an analogy. If you have a gold bar inside of concrete, you’ve got to chip away. You’re not going to break it in half.”
Jewell, the California native, struck gold with 13 seconds left, selling a hitch fake, sweeping across the top and scoring on a lefty laser to tie the game at 12.
Matthew Barraco came in for the ensuing faceoff, popped the ball forward, corralled it one-handed and deposited the game-winning goal just seven seconds later, the crowd erupting in chants of “U-S-A.”
“I had so much adrenaline pumping. I was more worried about winning the faceoff, doing my job and getting it to an attackman,” said Barraco, who also scored earlier in the game. “Then it was open. I took my best shot.”
WATCH: @USAMLax U18 Select team scores five goals in final 1:48 to beat Team Ontario 13-12. Wild finish.
— USA Lacrosse Magazine (@USALacrosseMag) October 17, 2021
@FirstScoutFilm
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Ontario committed a violation on the final faceoff and the U.S. ran out the last six seconds before Aidan Aitken launched the ball into the air, the bench emptied and players stormed goalie Evan Sharp.
“I told the guys before the first game, we have a family style. For us family means ‘forget about me, I love you,’” Brooks said. “There’s definitely an expectation every time you put on the USA. It means something. Be proud of that.”
Campbell finished with a team-high three goals against Ontario. Nate Kabiri netted four goals in an 11-8 win over the Haudenosaunee.
The USA Select U16 boys also came out of Saturday unscathed, defeating the Haudenosaunee 17-5 and Ontario 12-7. Luke Miller scored a combined eight goals in the two wins.
U18 GIRLS CRUISE
The USA Select U18 girls’ team outscored the Haudenosaunee Nationals and Team Ontario by a combined 39-4 margin in two convincing victories Saturday.
Gracie Britton scored four goals to lead the Americans to a 20-4 win over the Haudenosaunee. Kori Edmonson matched that total against Ontario and three other players scored hat tricks in a 19-0 shutout.
It was more of the same at the U16 level. USA Select’s Adele Atherton, Madison Alaimo and Madison Rassas scored three goals each in a 17-2 win over the Haudenosaunee. Lacey Downer one-upped them with four goals in a 15-7 win over Ontario.
The U.S. will look to claim its second straight Brogden Cup title after another full slate Sunday with 12 games at USA Lacrosse headquarters in Sparks, Maryland.
BROGDEN CUP RESULTS
Saturday
U18 BOYS
USA Select 11, Haudenosaunee 8
USA Select 13, Ontario 12
Haudenosaunee 12, Ontario 10
U18 GIRLS
USA Select 20, Haudenosaunee 4
USA Select 19, Ontario 0
Ontario 10, Haudenosaunee 6
U16 BOYS
USA Select 17, Haudenosaunee 5
USA Select 12, Ontario 7
Haudenosaunee vs. Ontario N/A
U16 GIRLS
USA Select 17, Haudenosaunee 2
USA Select 15, Ontario 7
Ontario 11, Haudenosaunee 7