2018 All-Metro boys lacrosse Player of the Year: Jacob Kelly, Calvert Hall

In repeating as the All-Metro Player of the Year, Kelly ran the show for the team’s potent attack with fine field sense and skills to match. He scored 46 goals, distributed 57 assists and collected 43 ground balls this season to close out his stellar four-year career. Just as important, he was a steadying influence as captain for a team that overcame adversity throughout the season.

Some of his finest work came at the most important times, including a two-goal, five-assist performance in a 15-9 semifinal win over Loyola Blakefield to open the playoffs. He followed that effort with two assists in the Cardinals’ 8-6 win over Boys’ Latin in the title game.

The North Carolina commit leaves Calvert Hall as the program’s second all-time leading scorer with 338 points. He finished with 161 goals, a program-record 177 assists and 154 ground balls.

2018 All-Metro Boys Lacrosse First and Second Teams

First team

Liam Bateman

Loyola Blakefield, senior, midfielder

» Four-year varsity player, captain led the No. 4 Dons (14-6) with 35 goals and 26 assists for 61 points this season

» Primarily left-handed but also adept with his right; catalyst always drew the long pole and proved productive with capability to take over games

» Loyola Maryland commit scored four or more goals in MIAA A Conference wins over St. Paul’s, Mount Saint Joseph and Gilman, and quarterfinal-round victory against Severn

» Said Loyola Blakefield coach Ben Rubeor: “He’s extremely smart, so [he] thought his way through games. The combination of his smarts and stickwork enabled him to make plays with good vision and a hard shot.”

Chris Brandau

Boys’ Latin, senior, goalie

» Three-year varsity player, two-year starter and captain, All-Metro second-team pick last year makes the jump to the first team after leading the No. 2 Lakers (14-5) to the MIAA A title game

» Averaged 10.5 saves per game while anchoring a defense that allowed 6.2 goals per game this season

» Georgetown commit shined in two MIAA A playoff wins to lead the Lakers to the championship game, making a combined 26 saves in wins against St. Mary’s and McDonogh

» Said Boys’ Latin coach Brian Farrell: “Chris is the complete package. It’s like having another coach on the field who consistently makes game-changing saves. Our team gained great confidence when Chris was making plays between the pipes.”

Severna Park, senior, midfielder

» Four-year varsity player, captain and All-Metro second team pick last year finished with a team-high 71 points (43 goals, 28 assists) to lead the No. 7 Falcons (17-2) to a third straight state title

» Closed out career with 113 goals and 73 assists for 186 points; also had 138 ground balls and 62 caused turnovers

» Maryland commit finished with 10 goals, six assists in this year’s playoffs, including four goals and two assists in Class 4A East Region title game win over Anne Arundel County rival Broadneck

» Said Severna Park coach Dave Earl: “Josh does things on the field that can’t be taught. He’s a great dodger, shooter and can see the field, [and] truly excels between the lines.”

BJ Farrare

McDonogh, senior, midfielder-defenseman

» Four-year starter and three-time first-team selection brought electric do-everything skills to consistently influence games in leading the No. 3 Eagles (13-5) to MIAA A semifinals

» Displayed unmatched versatility and athleticism playing close defense, long-stick and short-stick midfield to shut down opposing attacks and ignite transition

» Finished with 47 ground balls, two goals and four assists; committed to Penn to play lacrosse and football

» Said McDonogh coach Andy Hilgartner: “BJ Farrare has impacted the McDonogh lacrosse program like no other player in the school’s history.”

Dylan Gergar

Severn, senior, attackman

» Three-year varsity player, captain finished with 44 goals and 22 assists in 15 games in leading the No. 5 Admirals (8-7) to the MIAA A playoffs

» Scored at least one goal in 14 of 15 games with multigoal performances in 12, including six-goal efforts against Severna Park and St. Mary’s

» Named Capital Gazette Player of the Year in Anne Arundel, Penn commit finished career with 155 goals and 71 assists for 226 points

» Said Severn coach Joe Christie: “Dylan consistently drew the other teams’ best defender and he consistently produced. He loves to be physical and he loves contact. Dylan never shied away from an opportunity to have the ball in his stick at the most important moments of a game.”

Boys’ Latin, sophomore, attackman

» Two-year starter scored 61 goals this season to become the first sophomore in program history to surpass 60 in a season

» Strong, athletic and explosive with a wicked lefty shot, he became much more dominant with the ball this season as dynamic playmaker; also finished with 13 assists

» Ohio State commit averaged 3.8 points per game and scored three or more goals 14 times this season; has 97 goals and 27 assists in career

» Said Farrell: “Brendan had a memorable sophomore campaign in 2018. He was a force on the offensive end for and continued to improve his game all season. Brendan has the full arsenal of skills a complete attackman needs and a relentless work ethic.”

Felix Knorr

Howard, senior, faceoff specialist-midfielder

» Three-year varsity player emerged as the area’s top faceoff specialist in leading the No. 14 Lions (16-2) to the Class 4A state semifinals

» Combined quickness, strength, technique and whistle recognition to win 254 of 316 faceoffs (80 percent) this season; also won 207 ground balls to finish career with program record 521

» Named Howard County Times’ Player of the Year; committed to play at Towson

» Said Howard coach Jimmy Creighton: “His quick hands, whistle recognition and technique allowed him to put constant pressure on opposing teams. Our big scoring runs over the course of the year started with him gaining us possession after possession.”

Grant Mitchell

Calvert Hall, junior, midfielder

» After injury-filled sophomore season, emerged as a reliable midfield catalyst for the MIAA A champion Cardinals with ability to score and assist

» Complete player finished with 30 goals, 18 assists and 19 ground balls this season to improve on seven-goal, five-assist, 12-ground ball sophomore campaign

» Ohio State commit scored a game-high three goals in leading the Cardinals to an 8-6 win over Boys’ Latin in the MIAA A title game

» Said Calvert Hall coach Bryan Kelly: “He’s a very complete player. He had 30 goals and 18 assists, so he could beat you with scoring and he can beat you with passing. He’s very good without the ball in his stick but he’s also a phenomenal dodger.”

Chris Smith

McDonogh, senior, defenseman

» Captain, three-year starter and repeat first-team pick thrived with the regular assignment of marking opponents’ top attackman

» Physical presence on defense, he collected 26 ground balls and helped Eagles limit MIAA A opponents to under 5.5 goals per game

» Changed college commitment to Navy after originally planning to play at Towson

» Said Hilgartner: “Chris anchored our defense and led the team with an insane work ethic and focused effort. He improved at his position every year of high school.”

Michael Ubriaco

Boys’ Latin, senior, long-stick midfielder

» Four-year starter, captain and All-Metro second-team pick last year consistently set tone for the Lakers with high skills, work rate and intensity

» Dynamic game-changer finished with 68 ground balls, including six games of five or more, and had 13 goals and two assists this season

» Villanova commit finished as school’s all-time points leader among long-stick midfielders with 33 goals and 12 assists for career

» Said Farrell: “Michael is always making a play, whether it is on the wings, on the defensive end or in transition. He energized our entire team this entire season with his bursts and intensity in which he played the game.”

George Walsh

Calvert Hall, senior, defenseman

» Four-year varsity player, captain has been glue to two-time MIAA A champion Cardinals’ defense, which has been tops in the league past two seasons

» Smart positioning on and off the ball, strong and athletic, he finished with 23 ground balls and 19 caused turnovers

» Ohio State commit missed early portion of the season with torn labrum before playing through injury that will require surgery

» Said Kelly: “He just did everything for us. From communication to marking up anybody we needed him to cover, he could handle anybody in the league. Hard worker and strongest player on our team.”

Second team

Piper Bond, Gilman, senior, midfielder

Matt Brandau, Boys’ Latin, senior, attackman

BJ Burlace, St. Mary’s, senior, defenseman

Christian Etchison, Westminster, junior, midfielder

Cole Herbert, Calvert Hall, sophomore, midfielder

Colin Kelley, Marriotts Ridge, junior, goalie

Scott Middleton, Hereford, senior, long-stick midfielder

JD Nozemack, Hereford, senior, attackman

Liam Powderly, McDonogh, junior, attackman

Alex Reid, Loyola Blakefield, senior, attackman

Mason Woodward, St. Paul’s, junior, long-stick midfielder

Garrett Zungailia, Calvert Hall, senior, defenseman