SPARKS, Md. — Brock Behrman added to the storied history of the U.S.-Canada lacrosse rivalry Saturday, netting an overtime winner against Team Ontario in the Brogden Cup. Indicative of the rivalry’s recent back-and-forth swing, Ontario got the best of the USA Select U18 boys’ team on Sunday morning at USA Lacrosse headquarters.
Both the U.S. and Ontario finished 3-1 in the three-day event — a showcase of future border bouts to come.
“For both teams, they’re all headed to the next level. They’re all going to the NCAA,” Team Ontario coach Max Perren said following his team’s 6-5 win over the U.S. “It’s a preview for what’s to come. It’s so easy for these kids to get up for it. The games are clean, but it’s war. It’s so exciting to have the top players on both sides of the border, along with the Haudenosaunee, together. It’s a preview for the world of what’s to come.”
Behrman (Salisbury School, Conn.) scored the tying and winning goals in a 9-8 overtime triumph against Ontario Saturday, and although he scored twice Sunday, the U.S. was shut out in the second half and squandered a two-goal lead as Ontario earned the win. Casey Realini scored the go-ahead goal with 4:41 left.
BROCK BEHRMAN MAKING THAT NET SING.
U18 USA Select Men fall to Team Ontario in its first game today. pic.twitter.com/RP9Qni7kig— USA Lacrosse (@USA_Lacrosse) October 16, 2022
A couple of labrum surgeries prevented Behrman from taking part in the USA Lacrosse National Team Development Program the past few years. One of the stars of the U18 team in his first go-round, Behrman said the experience was more than he envisioned.
Adding a chapter to the historic rivalry certainly helped, of course.
“Growing up seeing those games on TV, it’s surreal to finally play in one of them,” Behrman said. “You understand the toughness playing in it, and the back and forth. Yesterday going into OT and today being a one-goal game, you really experience it.”
Behrman was a force all weekend, producing 10 goals. TJ Underhill and Matthew Han each scored twice Sunday, which also included a 6-3 win over the Haudenosaunee, while Brody Davis, Braden Poon and Nate Kabiri each scored once.
“Brock did a great job of leading the team and setting the example,” U.S. coach Steven Brooks said. “When he’s not on the field, he’s pacing up and down, boosting the guys up and making sure they stayed focused.”
Canada has the recent in upper hand in international men’s competition, winning the Sixes title at The World Games in Birmingham, Ala., this summer. But in full-field play, the U.S. won the most recent world championship in 2018 on an overtime goal from Tom Schreiber.
“It’s phenomenal,” Brooks said of the opportunity for his U18 players to experience the rivalry at a young age. “I told these guys that the two things they can control are energy and effort. The one thing they always do on Team Canada, and Team Ontario, they play tough. We have to go match that intensity.”
Participating in the USA Lacrosse NTDP program offers a spate of benefits, like world-class coaching and the possibility of wearing the red, white and blue in events like the Brogden Cup. Experiencing back-and-forth games against a familiar adversary is the cherry on top.
“They know this is best on best,” Perren said. “Through all of the tournaments they’ve played, they know these guys. It’s, ‘What can I prove today against the best?’”
