Despite SP Setback, Broadneck Focused On Big Picture

After a stellar preseason and two comfortable tune-up games, Broadneck’s boys soccer team was feeling bullish about their long-term chances in 2026.

The lofty goals are still within reach, but a 4-1 humbling by Severna Park showed the Bruins they are not yet the finished article.

Still, they rebounded from that setback and put things right immediately in an attempt to get back on track in the county and region races.

The Bruins sit at 4-1 heading into the first week of October, after beating Glen Burnie and St. Mary’s by identical 3-0 scorelines, though the games could not have been more different.

In the season opener at Bowie’s invitational tournament, the Bruins withstood an early push from Glen Burnie before netting 10 minutes in to restore order and build from there. Against the Saints, though, the opening goal didn’t come until well into the second half, by which time St. Mary’s had sensed an opening and begun to apply pressure. Three quickfire goals squelched that momentum, however, allowing the Bruins breathing space.

Against Severna Park, the team was flat and couldn’t match the Falcons’ pace and tenacity, but they bounced back against Meade and in the in-county contest with Glen Burnie the following week. They handled the Mustangs 4-0 on the road before topping the Gophers in a thrilling 2-1 double-overtime win in their first home game of the season, with Wilson Banwell’s 96th-minute penalty kick finally settling matters.

Though they scored for fun the last two seasons, these Bruins have netted 13 goals through five games. Banwell, Cooper Gaver and Henry Cukor have each hit the net three times, while Erik Akhtar leads the team in assists with three.

The goalkeeping team has posted three clean sheets, with Dalton Bashore posting 20 saves, including eight in the rematch with Glen Burnie. Jonas Encarnacion and Cameron Kreisel have also seen spot duty between the sticks and added two more saves.

Broadneck continues its road ways for the next three games, at Annapolis, South River and Arundel, as they play eight of their first nine games on the road. They close with four of their final five at home.