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By Chris Goldberg
TopLaxRecruits.com, Posted 7/4/14
BOYDS, Md. – The storm came just a little too early so the Brine National Lacrosse Classic made a positive out of a negative.
Maryland boys share Brine NLC HS championship
Thursday’s boys’ High School Division championship game between Maryland and Long Island was suspended after seven minutes of play and then canceled at the Maryland Soccerplex due to the approaching storm.
But Brine NLC officials proposed that the two co-champions will both represent the United States in January at the annual Brogden Cup, which typically pits the US champion against a Canadian All-Star team. Instead, the tourney will have two teams from each country in a round robin-style tourney.
That decision helped ease the disappointment for players on both teams that a true champion could not be decided.
Maryland’s Riley Ford
“It will be fun; we’ll get to play them and the Canadian teams,” said Maryland’s Riley Ford, a 2015 midfielder from South River.
Ford’s team finished undefeated in the tourney and advanced to the finals by disposing of Florida, 9-2, in the quarterfinals Thursday and then downing Connecticut, 9-5.
“We had a great team, first of all, and we all had played together or against each other so we know what everybody does,” Ford said. “That kind of made it work.
“We have great coaches and we had two practices and all kind of figured out what everybody does.”
Long Island’s Zachary Merle, a 2015 defensemna/LSM committed to Lafayette who played at St. Anthony’s and will PG at Deerfield Academy (MA), said his team also meshed well. Long Island also went undefeated and won playoff games over Minnesota (9-3) and Rochester (8-3).
Long Island’s Zachary Merle
“I think we just had the whole team buying into the system and nobody was selfish,” said Merle. “Everybody moved the ball around and we played off each other.
“That’s why we were able to keep beating teams. We all knew each other here and there, but nobody really knew each. I thought it was a great event; I am a little bummed we didn’t get to beat them (Baltimore) today, but it was fun.”
Girls – Long island, New Jersey share crown
Long Island-New Jersey HS co-champions
The storm also cancelled the girls’ High School title game as Long Island and New Jersey shared the crown. Long Island went undefeated and advanced to the finals with an 12-4 win over Colorado and an 11-2 rout of Minnesota, while New Jersey edged Maryland, 8-7, and downed Pennsylvania, 10-6.
New Jersey got two goals each from 2016 attack Sharon Carroll (Watchung Hills) and 2015 midfielder Erika Keselman (Colds Neck) in the win over Pennsylvania and outscored PA, 6-2, in the second half.
“I think it was our team chemistry and speed,” said New Jersey’s Alexandra (Lexi) Finn, a 2015 defender from Morris Catholic. “We were such a fast team and could beat a girl up the field in an instant, but our team bonded and that helped immensely!
“I don’t know how we all got to know each other so well in such a short time, but we all just bonded so well! It looked like we have been playing together for months; you never would’ve guessed we only met that Monday.”
The post .@NLCLacrosse High School championships: Baltimore, Long Island boys will head to Brogden Cup; NJ, LI girls share title appeared first on toplaxrecruits.com.