Why Bryn Mawr deserves to be ranked No. 1
With Garrison Forest, Broadneck, Severna Park, Westminster and South River all huddled at or near the top of the Field Hockey Poll all season, Bryn Mawr, 18-3-1, may have been surprised to find itself at the top of heap in the final poll published in Tuesday’s Sun.
But while all those other teams got the attention during the season, the Mawrtians quietly set about building a resume that deserved the final nod.
“I was surprised when I heard,” said Bryn Mawr coach Jeanette Budzik, who noted Garrison Forest’s No. 1 ranking the last two years and Severna Park’s long domination before that. “But I think it was something our kids deserve and accomplished.
“It is an honor to be No. 1. Everyone works really hard to get to that spot and if you’re in that position you’re in such strong, great company. No. 1, the Top 10, 15 or Top 20, it’s a great place to be. And the kids appreciate being recognized this year. To be at the top, it’s really incredible.
“There’s a lot of excitement at our school.”
Westminster was headed for No. 1, going into the final game with an 18-0 record. But Severna Park, who knows how to win championships, stopped the Owls, 2-1, in the title game for a state record 19th 4A state crown.
The Falcons went into the championship game ranked No. 3 and finished 16-2. They made an argument for No. 1 with the victory over Westminster and with its semifinal and regular season wins over No. 5 South River. But the Falcons lost twice -- to unranked Severn, 1-0, and to No. 8 Broadneck, 3-0, when the Bruins were ranked No. 1.
But besides South River and Broadneck, who did Severna Park play? The Falcons played the hand they were dealt. Positioned in Anne Arundel County they have to play the other Anne Arundel County teams. And the Falcons played them hard, beating up on the competition -- 11 shutouts and 121 goals scored attest to that.
But through the regular season and playoffs they faced only three ranked teams, Broadneck, South River, a team they beat by a goal in the regular season and by strokes in the playoffs, and Westminster.
Then there was Bryn Mawr.
Positioned at No. 2 after winning the IAAM championship 2-1 in double overtime against Garrison Forest, the Mawrtians could have stayed at No. 2 or, if The Sun allowed co-No.1’s, could have found themselves in a tie for first.
But ties aren't allowed. And after a review of the Mawrtians' schedule and performance record they were impossible to ignore.
They didn't have 121 goals, but they did have 14 shutouts before knocking off the then No. 1 Garrison Forest Grizzlies in the playoff final. Bryn Mawr also had victories over previously ranked St. Mary's, 2A champion Fallston, No. 11 and 2A semifinalist Glenelg, No. 9 Notre Dame Prep, No. 13 and 4A North regional finalist Dulaney and Archbishop Spalding three times -- twice when it was ranked.
Bryn Mawr had one tie, 0-0 with Garrison. The Mawrtians did lose to No. 9 Century, 2-1, to Garrison, 3-2 in overtime, and to South River, 3-0. But the Mawrtians beat Severn, the one other opponent it had in common with Severna Park, twice, 3-0 and 4-0.
“We have to play everyone in our league twice and to make it to the finals, we may have to beat a team for a third time,” said Budzik, who has coached at Bryn Mawr for 25 years. “That alone is really intense. And then, when other schools are willing to play us, we try to add them to our schedule.
“I think it is good for everyone for teams to play comparable teams. I think it helps both sides to get better. And I think it helps improve hockey in the state of Maryland.”
