BHS boys varsity soccer knocks off Broadneck in intercounty play By JAKE LINGER Sports Editor
On a brisk night at Lawrence E. Knight Stadium in Arnold, the Bowie High varsity boys soccer team defeated the Broadneck Bruins, 2-1. The Bulldogs (5-0) handed the Bruins (4-1) their first loss of the season while Bowie remained unbeaten.
The JV boys were defeated by the Bruins, 2-1, in their game previous to the varsity match.
The Bowie-Broadneck rivalry has become special over the years as each program remains competitive though separated by a county line. BHS coach Richard Kirkland's team had no issues playing to the fast conditions of the synthetic turf at Broadneck.
The Bulldogs applied the pressure early and often to the Bruins during the first half. Senior Brian Graham led the charge much of the way for a Bowie team that had multiple scoring chances in the early going. The Bulldogs were rewarded for their tough and gritty style of play with the game's first goal in the 25th minute.
The one down aspect of the Bulldogs' first half was the team's lack of communication. There was little chatter between players and there were a few - albeit very few - instances when the players seemed to swarm to the ball instead of holding their positions on the field. Nonetheless the players overcame the communication issues and simply outlasted the Bruins.
Fancy footwork and precision passing have been the bread and butter for both teams' success in recent seasons. Bowie players in particular seem to know precisely where they want to place the ball - then they do it.
Broadneck just couldn't find their way into the Bulldogs' attack zone with any consistency. Most of the first half was spent in defensive mode for the Bruins.
Graham is one of those players that attracts attention, perhaps out of respect for his quickness and skills. Graham throws his body into the mix for 50/50 balls and he flies up and down the field with ease; it's not unlike watching NBA guards such as Dwayne Wade or Gilbert Arenas take off toward the basket with such speed and reckless abandon that they frequently end up on the hardwood following such feats. The same might be said - in soccer terms - in regards to Graham.
The Bulldogs completed the first half with the one-goal lead. The question really became whether Bowie could maintain the momentum it built in the first half. When the teams broke their halftime huddles, to whom would the good bounces go?
Broadneck indeed dominated the opening minutes of the half. After a few offensive flurries and one solid scoring chance in front of the Bowie net, the Bruins finally scored in the fourth minute. Thanks to a penalty kick, however, Bowie regained the lead, 2-1. There was another solid chance for the Bulldogs to score in the 22nd minute, but the Broadneck keeper stepped up and made a tremendous save to keep the game within reach.
The Bruins left no stone unturned when one of their players was given a yellow card for "flopping," more commonly known as taking a dive in hopes of drawing a penalty against Bowie.
The undefeated Bulldogs will play at Bulldogs Stadium Friday at 5 p.m.
