The Brunswick HS Lacrosse program made the trek to North Carroll HS for possibly the last time. With North Carroll set to consolidate with Manchester Valley next school year to form a 3A school, this could have been the Railroaders last opportunity to best their regional opponent. 

The evening started on a cold and blustery evening with the JV team jumping out to a 2-0 start, but due to a thin roster and many mental and physical mistakes, the lead was short-lived and the team was trailing the Panthers at halftime. Unfortunately for Brunswick, the team was never able to right the ship, and loss their first game with a score of 11-4 in favor of North Carroll.

The headline event was the Varsity contest which turned out to be a very entertaining, and offensive-minded, game which wasn't truly decide until well into the fourth quarter. After a back and forth first quarter, Brunswick kept within 2 goals of North Carroll, but that was as close as they would get on this evening. In the fourth quarter, the Railroaders made one final push, but was ultimately too little too late as North Carroll prevailed 19-13.

Goal Scorers for Brunswick:
Freshman Midfielder - Layne Harich - 6 Goals / 1 Assist
Senior Attackman - Bailey Premo - 4 Goals / 2 Assists
Junior Attackman - Quinn Hutchins - 2 Goals / 1 Assist
Junior Attackman - Chris Cornett - 1 Goal

Junior Goaltender - Tristan Dassele - 10 Saves

Coach Hartman's thoughts on the Brunswick vs. North Carroll game:
"There was a lot of question marks about this team coming into this game, and although there are several questions remaining after this game, many have been answered. This team answered the bell when their backs were against the wall. They stared down adversity and were able to bounce back from it, which is something teams in the past have struggled with. Clearly, the defensive side of the ball needs to be addressed, but the offense did a tremendous job keeping this team afloat. There were still too many physical and mental mistakes, but this is a good starting point for this team. Now we face the task of improving and always progressing towards perfection."

Upcoming BHS Lacrosse Schedule:
BHS vs. Urbana HS - Brunswick High School - JV: 5:30 / Varsity: 7:00

The Brunswick High School Railroaders played the Urbana Hawks for the first time in over a decade at Brunswick High School Stadium. Despite the stark contrast in size of school, and programs, the 'Roaders were determined to prove they belong in the conversation as one of the better teams in Frederick County. 

In the first quarter, Brunswick held their own, and was only one goal away late in the opening frame. However, what happened next no one expected. Urbana went on a run which didn't see Brunswick score another goal until the 4th quarter, and by that time Urbana was able to achieve a running clock (which is awarded when there is a 12 goal or more lead in the second half). When the dust settled, Brunswick fell flat to the tune of 17-4 for their second loss of the season.

Goal Scorers for Brunswick vs. Urbana:

Freshman Midfielder - Layne Harich - 2 Goals
Senior Attackman - Bailey Premo - 1 Goal
Junior Attackman - Chris Cornett - 1 Goal

Junior Goaltender - Tristan Dassele - 20 Saves

Coach Hartman's Thoughts on the Urbana Game:
"When the schedule was released, and every FCPS school was given a county schedule, the potential for games like this was very present and real. Small schools like Brunswick can naturally struggle against schools like Urbana who have an obvious advantage in terms of numbers. However, we don't lean on that as an excuse. In fact, we talk about it as an opportunity. A chance to prove we belong, and aren't just a footnote on the county lacrosse season. Nonetheless, we came up short in ever facet tonight. We were right in the game late in the first, but the wheels completely came off. This happened a lot last season, and this team will have to prove they are different by remaining focused at the task at hand. We are taking this season one game at a time, and the next step is a road game against Walkersville. I think I speak for everyone involved when I say we can't wait to get this taste out of our mouths. Next Tuesday can't come fast enough."

Upcoming BHS Lacrosse Schedule:
Tuesday April 5th - BHS @ Walkersville HS
Thursday April 7th - BHS vs Oakdale HS

The Brunswick Railroaders' backs were against the wall. Due to some unforeseen circumstances prior to the game, combined with an injury to a Junior midfelder in the first quarter, the team was left with only a handful of subs against a very deep Walkersville team. 

On the road, hostile environment and the intensity of a playoff game could spell disaster for a team that isn't very deep, but the Railroaders were prepared for the game. They showed their superior conditioning and were able to withstand the Lions best shot, time and time again. The 'Roaders took an early lead in the game, and never relinquished it as they were able to claim their first win of the season with a 9-5 final score.

The underlying theme of the night wasn't just the diminutive Brunswick roster, but the penalties. There were 21 penalties called on both teams in the contest, 13 of those against Walkersville. Brunswick played their hand and used the clock wisely in the second half, converting on many of those man-up opportunities. 

The win moves Brunswick's record to 1-2 on the season.

Goal Scorers for BHS vs. Walkersville:

Freshman Midfielder - Layne Harich - 2 Goals / 2 Assists
Senior Attackman - Bailey Premo - 3 Goals
Junior Attackman - Chris Cornett - 2 Goals
Sophomore Midfielder - Andrew Shaffer - 1 Goal
Sophomore Attackman - Joey Intolubbe - 1 Goal
Senior Midfielder - Marc Leazer - 1 Assist

Junior Goaltender - Tristan Dassele - 7 Saves

Coach Hartman's Thoughts on the Walkersville Game:
"In a game that seemed to get out of control on a few occasions, I applaud our players' poise and composure to control their actions. It would have been easy to be baited into taking excessive penalties, but instead we took advantage of the mistakes of our opponent. It wasn't a pretty game, or a pretty win, but it was a win. That is the most important takeaway from this game. We didn't play our best game, and were still able to come away with a notch in the win column. Now we have to re-focus and prepare ourselves for Oakdale coming to our stadium on Thursday. This will be a tough test for us, and I hope the players are mentally prepared to improve every time they step on the field."

Upcoming BHS Lacrosse Schedule:
BHS vs. Oakdale HS - JV - 5:30 / Varsity - 7:00

The Brunswick Railroaders hosted the Oakdale Bears at Brunswick High School Thursday, and as Brunswick prepared for one of the best teams in Frederick County, no one knew exactly how the game would unfold. What eventually happened when the opening whistle blew, was a spirited effort from the Railroaders. Brunswick jumped out to an early lead, and the two teams went back and forth throughout the first half, eventually heading into halftime tied 5-5.

In the third quarter Oakdale used a tough defense and mistake-free play to capitalize on Brunswick's errors, and took a commanding lead into the 4th quarter. When all was said and done, the Railroaders dropped the game 13-6, but the score certainly was a true sign of just how close the game truly was throughout the four quarter contest.

BHS Goal Scorers vs. Oakdale:
Senior Attackman - Bailey Premo - 2 Goals / 1 Assist
Freshman Midfielder - Layne Harich - 2 Goals / 1 Assist
Senior Midfielder - Marc Leazer - 1 Goal
Senior Defender - TJ Attrill - 1 Goal
Freshman Attackman - Jacob Cadle - 1 Assist

Junior Goaltender - Tristan Dassele - 16 Saves

Coach Hartman's thoughts on the Oakdale game:
"This was a game which could have certainly gone our way, but some crucial mistakes at critical junctures in the game derailed those plans. Overall, I thought the players made a name for themselves. Proved to themselves they can hang with the best in the county. Despite the loss, this was a huge step forward for our program. The next key is to not take a step backward next week with two huge games coming up."

Upcoming BHS Lacrosse Schedule:
4/12 - BHS vs. Middletown - JV - 5:30 / Varsity - 7:00
4/14 - BHS @ Boonsboro - JV - 5:30 / Varsity - 7:00

There are occasions where it just seems as if the luck isn't on your side some games, and you could chalk that up to the Brunswick Railroaders dreadful 17-6 loss to the Middletown Knights. The Railroaders continue to search for their first home victory of the season, but were not afforded the opportunity by a tough Middletown team who out-hustled, out-executed and out-schemed the now 1-4 'Roaders.

There was a shining spot for Brunswick in the loss, and that would be Junior goalie Tristan Dassele who registered 26 saves, all despite surrendering 17 goals. Being peppered by Middletown shots, Dassele stood on his head on more than one occasion to keep the score of the game at a reasonable tally.

Brunswick played with a depleted roster due to illness which has been going throughout the team, but the performance by those who were able to play was certainly not up to par with what is expected at Brunswick.

BHS Goal Scorers vs. Middletown:
Senior Attackman/Midfielder - Bailey Premo - 5 Goals / 1 Assist
Freshman Midfielder/Attackman - Layne Harich - 1 Goal / 1 Assist
Junior Midfielder - Justin Caraher - 1 Assist

Junior Goaltender - Tristan Dassele - 26 Saves

Coach Hartman's thoughts on the Middletown game:
"Going into the game we knew this would be tough. Having some of our players not able to suit up, or playing at less than 100-percent leaves a team with low numbers like ours already at a disadvantage; however, that is not an excuse for the way we played. We were sloppy, unfocused and lacked the intensity necessary to win. This will need to be fixed quickly, and I hope we get a full roster back for our next game Thursday. Like I told the players, one game does not define a season, and we still have plenty of time to right the ship before the games really start to matter. Time to move on to the next game."

Upcoming BHS Lacrosse Schedule:
BHS @ Boonsboro HS - 4/14 - JV - 5:30pm / Varsity - 7:00pm

To say the Brunswick Railroaders schedule was a tough task is an understatement. Playing a Frederick County schedule is no easy task, and despite the team playing games against teams more their size, the Railroaders continue to struggle. After dropping a disappointing game to Middletown HS on Tuesday, the 'Roaders were excited to get back on the field and prove their worth against the leading team in their section in Boonsboro.

Unfortunately, due to a barrage of penalties and mishaps, Boonsboro took advantage of the mistakes and took a commanding lead in the game which proved to be insurmountable. When the dust settled, Brunswick's record read 1-5 after losing 14-5 to their rivals.

BHS Goal Scorers vs. Boonsboro
Freshman Midfielder - Layne Harich - 2 Goals / 2 Assist
Junior Attackman - Chris Cornett - 2 Goals
Sophomore Midfielder - Joey Intolubbe - 1 Goal 

Junior Goaltender - Tristan Dassele - 15 Saves

Coach Hartman's Thoughts on the Boonsboro Game:
"I've been a head coach for 11 years, and I have never seen a team run into the obstacles that this one has. Whether it is illness which has kept players out of the lineup, or even injury which has ended some players' seasons, this team has been faced with a tremendous amount of adversity. How you handle adversity says a lot about your character and your will to win as a team. Unfortunately, our team has crumbled under adversity. We are fortunate we have the second half of our season left, but those games will move quickly and before you know it the playoffs will be upon us. The time is now to right the ship, and if we don't it will be a quick exit when the games matter the most."

Upcoming BHS Lacrosse Schedule:
Tuesday 4/19 - BHS @ Frederick HS - JV - 5:30 / Varsity - 7:00
Thursday 4/21 - BHS vs. TJHS - NO JV GAME / Varsity - 6:00

It wasn't always pretty, but the Brunswick Railroaders were able to defeat the Frederick Cadets Tuesday night for their second win of the 2016 season. With a 18-4 final score, most would assume the 'Roaders dominated play from the opening face off till the final whistle, but the reality of the situation is Brunswick did dominate the game, but was unable to finish on their scoring opportunities in the first half.

Dominating face offs, ground balls, clearing and riding and even time of possession, Brunswick shot the ball 30 times in the first half, with only 6 goals to their credit. At halftime the 6-3 score was a little close for comfort, but it would be the third quarter where Brunswick finally starting dialing in offensive attack and put up 12 goals in the final two frames. Brunswick's defense struggled against the fast break, but held the Cadets without a goal in the 4th quarter.

BHS Goal Scorers vs. Frederick 
Freshman Midfielder - Layne Harich - 8 Goals / 4 Assists
Senior Attackman - Bailey Premo - 5 Goals / 1 Assist
Senior Midfielder - Marc Leazer - 2 Goals
Sophomore Midfielder - Joey Intolubbe - 1 Goal / 1 Assist
Junior Attackman - Chris Cornett - 1 Goal / 1 Assist
Junior Midfielder - Justin Caraher - 1 Goal
Sophomore Attackman - Dylan Mangold - 1 Assist

Junior Goaltender - Tristan Dassele - 10 Saves

Coach Hartman's thoughts on the Frederick game:
"This was a game we all knew could, and probably should, be ours from the start. It was disappointing to see us struggle to score as much as we did in the first half, but otherwise I was very pleased with our play. We won the groundball battle, dominated at the faceoff 'x', and controlled the possession. We dictated every aspect of the game, except for the goal scoring category. Taking 30 shots in the first half with only 6 goals is unacceptable, but also an easy fix. The players adjusted to the defense, and the goalie, and we were able to pull away in the second half to get some of our younger players some experience. We hope this game will be a spring board for not just the team, but the offense, moving forward."

Upcoming BHS Lacrosse Schedule:
BHS vs. Gov. Thomas Johnson HS - Varsity - 6:00pm

The Brunswick Railroaders were searching for their second consecutive victory of the 2016 season, and although they were able to achieve this goal, it didn't come easy. Brunswick came out to a fast start, and were able to hold a 4 goal lead on multiple occasions in the second quarter, but after halftime Thomas Johnson came out and played an inspired brand of lacrosse.

After multiple penalties and unforced errors, the Railroaders had let TJHS back in the game. Clinging to a 2-goal lead with 2 minutes left in the game, a critical error gave the ball back to TJ, and they converted the error into a goal. With a score of 12-11, Brunswick was able to cause a turnover on the final possession of the game and ice the victory for Brunswick.

The win moves Brunswick's record to 3-5 in hopes of righting the ship and getting back into a position within the playoff seedings to achieve a first round bye when the playoffs start in May.

Goal Scorers for BHS vs. TJHS:
Freshman Midfielder - Layne Harich - 4 Goals / 3 Assists
Senior Attackman - Bailey Premo - 5 Goals
Junior Attackman - Chris Cornett - 2 Goals / 2 Assists
Sophomore Attackman - Jacob Statler - 1 Goal
Freshman Defender - Joe Altieri - 1 Assist
Senior Midfielder - Marc Leazer - 1 Assist
Sophomore Midfielder - Andrew Shaffer - 1 Assist

Junior Goaltender - Tristan Dassele - 15 Saves

Coach Hartman's Thoughts on the TJHS Game:
"I've always said it is better to have an ugly win compared to a really bad loss. I'll take the ugly win...period. This was a game where we overlooked our opponent, and we were tested to the brink. Nonetheless, the players responded and were able to put together a winning performance. Was it pretty? Not in any stretch of the imagination, but it was a win. Now we move on and prepare for the next game on the schedule."

Upcoming BHS Lacrosse Schedule:
4/26 - BHS vs. Linganore - 6:00pm
4/29 - BHS @ Catoctin - 6:00pm

After winning back-to-back games, Brunswick High School was looking to extend their streak to three games with a monumental upset over the highly ranked Linganore Lancers who came to Brunswick Tuesday night. Instead of a monumental upset, Brunswick was given a front-row seat to a team which was all around better in every phase of the game.

From the opening face off, Linganore dominated time of possession, the ground ball battle and ultimately the scoreboard. After scoring 12 goals in the first quarter, Linganore eventually called off the dogs and cruised to a 15-3 victory. The loss didn't just snap Brunswick's winning streak, but also equates to the team only playing for a .500 record, if they win the remainder of their regular season games.

BHS Goal Scorers vs. Linganore:
Freshman Midfielder - Layne Harich - 1 Goal / 1 Assist
Senior Midfielder - Marc Leazer - 1 Assist
Junior Attackman - Chris Cornett - 1 Goal
Sophomore Attackman - Joey Intolubbe - 1 Goal

Junior Goaltender - Tristan Dassele - 10 Saves

Coach Hartman's thoughts on the Linganore game:
"The coaches and players knew this game was going to be difficult, but we were hoping for more of a fight than what we put on the field. More intensity, more focus and an overall better body of work. With this game behind us, we no longer have games against the large schools in the county. The rest of our schedule matches up favorably for us, and we hope to take advantage. The best case scenario for us is to win the remaining three games on our schedule, and head into the playoffs on a hot streak. If that happens or not will ultimately come down to the players being able to put a consistent performance on the field."

Upcoming BHS Lacrosse Schedule:
BHS @ Catoctin - Varsity - 7:00pm / Bus leaves BHS at 5:15pm

The Brunswick Railroaders were looking to turn the page from their horrid loss to the Linagnore Lancers on Tuesday, and on Thursday night they had the perfect opponent -- cross county rivals, the Catoctin Cougars.

On the night the Cougars would celebrate their Seniors, the weather was far from celebratory. A steady mist and rain fell throughout the game, making the footing, and the offense, pretty sloppy. Despite the conditions, Brunswick was able to take a lead early in the game, only to watch Catoctin score 3 unanswered goals. 

Brunswick rallied back and in the third quarter didn't just take the lead, but created a 4-goal cushion. Between these two teams, there aren't many secrets, and the Cougars roared back and scored a man-up goal with less than a minute remaining in the game to make the score 7-6. Brunswick's defense stopped Catocin, despite a late-game scare with another man-up opportunity with 1.4 seconds left on the clock.

When all was said and done, Brunswick prevailed 7-6 and advanced their record to 4-6 on the season.

BHS Goal Scorers vs. Catoctin:
Junior Attackman - Chris Cornett - 2 Goals / 2 Assists
Senior Attackman - Bailey Premo - 2 Goals
Sophomore Midfielder - Joey Intolubbe - 2 Goals
Freshman Attackman - Jacob Cadle - 1 Goal
Freshman Midfielder - Layne Harich - 1 Assist

Junior Goaltender - Tristan Dassele - 15 Saves

Coach Hartman's Thoughts on the Catoctin game:
"This was a measuring stick game for us, and the team responded. After our dreadful performance against Linganore, the team responded with a hard fought victory on the road in sub-par conditions. Games like this can go South in a hurry if you aren't prepared and don't perform, but the players did that and were able to have us sitting pretty in terms of the playoff standings after this win. Next week is another big week for us, and we realize how important it is for us to go into the playoffs on a 3-game winning streak."

Upcoming BHS Lacrosse Schedule:
BHS vs. Smithsburgh - 5/3 - 6:00pm
BHS @ Tuscarora - 5/5 - 6:00pm

The Brunswick Railroaders were hosting their final home game of the 2016 regular season against the Smithsburg Leopards. Brunswick has struggled at home this season, and the struggles continued in the early portion of the game. Smithsburg was first on the score board, and their play lead to a 8-6 lead heading into the final quarter of the game.

With their backs against the wall, the 'Roaders were challenged to step up on defense and put them away offensively, and they did just that. Brunswick went on to score 5 unanswered goals to make the final score 11-8. It was Brunswick's 2nd win at home, and improved their record to 5-6 with one game left on the schedule. Even with one game remaining on the schedule, Brunswick has locked up the No. 2 seed in the section, and also a first round bye in the playoffs which start May 11th.

BHS Goal Scorers vs. Smithsburg HS:
Senior Attackman - Bailey Premo - 4 Goals / 1 Assist
Freshman Midfielder - Layne Harich - 2 Goals / 3 Assists
Junior Attackman - Chris Cornett - 2 Goals / 1 Assist
Freshman Attackman - Jacob Cadle - 2 Goals
Junior Midfielder - Alex Leazer - 1 Goal
Senior Midfielder - Marc Leazer - 1 Assist

Junior Goaltender - Tristan Dassele - 10 Saves

Coach Hartman's thoughts on the Smithsburg Game:
"This game has been very indicative of how we have played the entire season. We start slow, and are forced to climb our way back into the game. Against teams who are more skilled than Smithsburg, it is a failing effort. We need to learn how to come out of the gates better and maximize our opportunities on both offense and defense. We have one more game in the regular season, and finishing the season on a 3-game winning streak is extremely important to us."

Upcoming BHS Lacrosse Schedule:
BHS @ Tuscarora - 6:00pm

The Brunswick Railroaders were looking to extend their winning streak to three game, the longest of the season, when playing Tuscarora Thursday night to end their regular season. What took place was a deflating loss which has the Railroaders going back to the drawing board as they prepare for the 2016 MPSSAA Class 1A-2A state playoffs.

The tale of the Brunswick 2016 regular season seems to be marred by slow starts to games. Even in victories over Catoctin, Thomas Johnson, Smithsburg and Frederick, the team struggled to ever jump out to a commanding lead and dictate play to their opponent. This will have to be fixed quickly in the postseason, or Brunswick's time in the playoffs may be short lived.

BHS Goal Scorers vs. Tuscarora:
Senior Attackman - Bailey Premo - 3 Goals / 1 Assist
Freshman Attackman - Jacob Cadle - 1 Goal
Sophomore Midfielder - Joey Intolubbe - 1 Goal
Junior Attackman - Chris Cornett - 1 Goal 

Junior Goaltender - Tristan Dassele - 12 Saves

Coach Hartman's thoughts on the Tuscarora Game:
"Before the season started, we knew how the schedule played itself out. We knew there was a chance for us to have a 3-game winning streak heading into the playoffs. We had accomplished 2/3 of that goal, but fell flat on our faces in the last leg of the race. The players need to realize as the playoffs approach, there is no "next game". It is either win, or you are done. If the team wants to make a run in the postseason, they need to get their minds right as we have almost a full week of prep leading up to our playoff game."

Upcoming BHS Lacrosse Schedule:
MPSSAA Sectional Semifinal: BHS vs. Catoctin - May 13th (If this changes, you will be notified)

The Brunswick High School 2016 Boys Varsity Lacrosse season has come to an ugly conclusion. The conclusion was in the form of a 14-6 drubbing by the Catoctin Cougars in the Sectional Quarterfinals of the MPSSAA 1A-2A state tournament. Catoctin was clearly the better team in all phases Friday night, as the Railroaders were never able to click and reach a gear they knew they had, but were unable to ever harness.

The loss moved Brunswick's 2016 record to 5-8 overall, and a program who hasn't won a playoff game since 2014.

BHS Goal Scorers vs. Catoctin:
Junior Attackman - Chris Cornett - 2 Goals / 3 Assists
Freshman Midfielder - Layne Harich - 1 Goal / 1 Assist
Senior Attackman - Bailey Premo - 3 Goals
Junior Defenseman - Quinn Hutchins - 1 Assist

Junior Goaltender - Tristan Dassele - 8 Saves

Coach Hartman's Thoughts on the Catoctin Playoff game:
"Maybe we overlooked Catoctin. That is a possibility, but one thing is for sure...we weren't prepared for this game. I will take the majority of the credit for this loss. Catoctin came out in a zone defense we just weren't prepared to face. It took us too long to adjust, and when we did we didn't capitalize on our chances. The lead in to this game was average at best. There was only one or two practices in the week prior to the game where we had all of our players in attendance at practice. Catoctin just wanted the game more than we did, and it showed. This will sting for a while, but hopefully the returning players will realize what it takes to be successful in 2017. Take the loss and learn from it and develop into a team to be reckoned with."