Defensive Players Steal the Show on Day One of the Brogden Cup
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© 2025 USA Lacrosse. All Rights Reserved.
© 2025 USA Lacrosse. All Rights Reserved.
SPARKS, Md. — When all-star teams come together, the wealth of offensive talent makes it easy to overlook the players on defense. But the boys with the long poles did their best not to be overlooked on day one of the Brogden Cup at USA Lacrosse headquarters in Sparks, Md.
A dominating performance on the defensive side led the U.S. U17 Boys' Youth National Team to a 10-2 victory over Team Ontario in the first of four USA boys’ games Friday. The USA U19 boys followed with a 13-2 win over Ontario shortly thereafter.
The U.S. Youth National Teams (boys and girls) combined to go 8-0 and outscored their opponents 120-15 on opening day, allowing fewer than two goals per game.
“Playing good team defense in these games is definitely tougher than in club or high school because we don’t have as much time together,” USA U17 defenseman Jack Czepiel said. “It forces us to communicate more.”
Jackson Allen, a long-stick midfielder for the USA U19 team, reminds everyone that there’s plenty of individual talent among the long poles too. He displayed some of his own skills with a couple of eye-catching caused turnovers — dislodging both stick and ball — in addition to a pair of first-half goals.
Allen’s second goal came from beyond midfield, a long heave on a vacant goal after Team Ontario went offside clearing the ball.
“All these guys can play,” said Allen, who is committed to Maryland. “When we come together, all the pieces fit just right.”
Allen echoed the need to have good communication while also staying aggressive.
“The key to good defense is to over-communicate, especially to the middies” he said. “On my high school team, we call it CSC – constant specific communication.”
Czepiel also noted the importance of playing fundamentally sound individual defense. There’s no room for hero ball.
“We still had some mishaps defensively,” he said. “We have to be more disciplined in our positioning. Sometimes, we’re trying to do too much to make a play and maybe show off a little bit. The goal is no crazy checks.”
For both Czepiel and Allen, events like the Brogden Cup and last month’s Rivalry Challenge are a chance to forge friendships with the same players that they compete against on the summer club circuit.
“It’s a great opportunity to wear your country across your chest and to play alongside so many great players that you compete against for most of the summer,” said Czepiel, a high school junior at Tabor Academy (Mass.) who announced his college commitment to Princeton last month.
Meanwhile, Allen, a senior at Salisbury School in Connecticut, had another phrase that he also shared with his U19 teammates.
“Gas pedal is on the right,” he said. “We don’t want to stop. If we keep putting on the pressure, the job will get done.”
Shea Shoulberg is right in the middle of a lacrosse family.
Her father, Charlie, was an All-American at Ithaca College, played professionally in the National Lacrosse League and is founder and CEO of the national club girls’ lacrosse powerhouse STEPS Lacrosse Club. He also was an assistant general manager of the New Jersey Pride and the 2006 U.S. Men’s National Team.
Her mom, Jessica, played collegiately at Notre Dame and also coaches. Her two older sisters are currently playing in college — Elizabeth at Moravian and Grace at Notre Dame. Two younger siblings also play lacrosse.
Currently a high school junior and a member of the U.S. U17 Youth National Team, Shoulberg recently committed to the Irish as well.
“I explored all the options, but Notre Dame is the place for me,” she said. “It has everything I need, academically and athletically.”
Shoulberg, who recorded a game-high four assists in Friday’s U.S. U17 team victory over Team Ontario, knows that she has benefitted greatly from the influence of two parents with strong lacrosse pedigrees.
“It has shaped me into the person I am today and I’m so incredibly grateful,” she said. “I’ve learned how to be a coachable player and how to be a good listener. And to always hustle. That’s one of the most important things.”
Shoulberg, who also played in the USA Lacrosse Rivalry Challenge last month, loves the high level of play that comes with being a part of the U.S. team.
“It’s so cool to be able to play with these amazing girls from all over the country,” Shoulberg said. “This is so much fun.”
Ryder Johnson/Blaine Powless, Haudenosaunee: The Haudenosaunee's U19 goalie tandem was locked in Friday. A breakout star at the World Lacrosse Men's U20 Championship in South Korea, Johnson made seven saves in a 7-4 win over Team Ontario. Powless followed with eight saves in a 8-2 loss to the United States.
Anastasia Terrance, Haudenosaunee: A Class of 2027 prospect, Terrance looked terrific in the opening game of the Brogden Cup, pacing the Haudenosaunee U17 team with four goals in an 11-7 victory over Team Ontario.
Shea Shoulberg, United States: The USA U17 attacker and Notre Dame commit factored in 12 goals with five goals and seven assists spread across two games.
Kylie Waters, United States: A Clemson commit, Waters was unstoppable Friday, showcasing her hesitation dodge and quick burst. She had three goals and assist in the USA U19 team's win over Ontario, then exploded for six goals against the Haudenosaunee.
Francisco Williams, United States: A field-stretching midfielder, Williams displayed explosiveness and a powerful shot on the run, scoring hat trick in each of the USA U19 team's victories Friday. He's committed to Hofstra.
Jackson Allen, United States: Lauded as one of the top long-stick midfielders in the Class of 2026, the Maryland commit backed up the rep with a disruptive and opportunistic performace against Team Ontario in the U19 competition. He detwigged his opponent twice and scored two goals, including a bomb from beyond midfield.
Parker Old, United States: A 6-foot-1 attackman out of Upper Arlington (Ohio), Old scored seven goals in a pair of victories for the USA U17 boys' team. He's a Class of 2028 prospect.
Featuring U17 and U19 boys’ and girls’ teams from the Haudenosaunee Nation, Ontario and the United States, the Brogden Cup uses a Ryder Cup-style scoring system to determine the tournament champion. Each win nets one point for participating programs.
U17G: Haudenosaunee 11, Ontario 7
U19B: Haudenosaunee 7, Ontario 4
U17G: United States 18, Ontario 2
U19G: United States 17, Ontario 1
U17B: United States 10, Ontario 2
U19B: United States 13, Ontario 2
U17B: United States 16, Haudenosaunee 3
U19B: United States 8, Haudenosaunee 2
U17G: United States 20, Haudenosaunee 0
U19G: United States 18, Haudenosaunee 3
W-L-PTS
USA 8-0-8
HAU 2-4-2
ONT 0-6-0
Saturday, Oct. 25 (all times Eastern)
9 a.m.: Haudenosaunee vs. Ontario (U17G)
10:30 a.m.: Haudenosaunee vs. Ontario (19G)
12 p.m.: Haudenosaunee vs. United States (U17G)
1:30 p.m.: Ontario vs. United States (U19G)
3 p.m.: Haudenosaunee vs. Ontario (U17B)
4:30 p.m.: Haudenosaunee vs. Ontario (U19B)
6 p.m.: Ontario vs. United States (U17B)
7:30 p.m.: Ontario vs. United States (U19B)
Paul Ohanian has worked at USA Lacrosse since 2006 and is currently the senior manager of program content. Prior to joining USA Lacrosse, he served as SID at a Division III school with a strong lacrosse tradition and learned to appreciate the commitment and passion that athletes at all levels bring to the game.
