COLLEGE PARK, Md. (March 29, 2008) -- Redshirt junior goalie Jason Carter had a career-day, making a career-best 15 saves, to help lead the fourth-ranked University of Maryland mens lacrosse team to a 13-7 win over No. 1 Virginia in front of more than 4,000 fans at Chevy Chase Bank Field at Byrd Stadium and a national television audience tuning in on ESPN2.

The Terps victory over the top-ranked Cavaliers is the programs first win over a No. 1 team at home since 1996 when Maryland topped Virginia 13-11. The last time Maryland dropped a No. 1 team overall was on March 4, 2006 when the Terps took down No. 1 Duke, 8-7 in overtime, at Koskinen Stadium in Durham, N.C.

Carter and the entire Terrapin defense was spectacular in the cage for the Terps, especially in the first half. The Crownsville, Md., native made seven of his 15 saves in the first 30:00 to help Maryland hold the Cavaliers to just three goals, allowing the Terrapin offense to build a 9-3 lead at the half. Coming into the game, Virginia had been averaging more than seven goals per game in the first half and had not trailed at halftime in any game this year.

While the defense took care of business on its end of the field, the Maryland offense was clicking on all cylinders at the other side of the field. The freshman attack trio of Travis Reed, Grant Catalino and Ryan Young combined for six goals and three assists. Young got the ball rolling for Maryland with the games opening goal at the 13:01 mark.

Redshirt junior Jeff Reynolds continued his hot shooting streak, scoring the next two goals to give the Terps a 3-0 lead with less than five minutes elapsed. Reynolds first score came off a face-off, which was won by sophomore Bryn Holmes. Holmes was jumped as he entered the Cavalier box, but was able to flip the ball to Reynolds, who got a shot past Virginia goalie Adam Ghitelman.

Virginia finally got on the board at the 3:34 mark on an unassisted goal by Peter Lamade, but Maryland responded with back-to-back goals by Reed and senior midfielder Will Dalton to boost the lead to 5-1. Reed scored on a wrap-around shot from behind the right side of the Wahoo goal. Dalton, who won 8-of-14 face-offs on the day, took then ensuing draw straight down the field and beat Ghitelman from the right alley.

Brian Carroll seemed to give Virginia a little momentum with a man-up goal at the 10:45 mark, but it was Maryland that would go on a run and really take control of the game. Dalton won the face-off following Carrolls score and it took the Terps just 61 seconds to strike back. Young skipped a pass to Reed on the left side, where the Cockeysville, Md., native ripped a shot into the Virginia net.

Reed followed that up with his third goal of the game on a low shot from the left wing. The Terrapin lead grew to 9-2 on unassisted goals by junior midfielder Rob Morrison and freshman Tony Mendes. Virginia was able to cut the lead to six going into halftime thanks to another goal by Lamade.

The Wahoos came out of the break looking to whittle away at the Maryland lead and back-to-back goals by Ben Rubeor and Rhamel Bratton had it down to four, the closest it had been since the 9:37 mark of the second quarter.

But the Terps would not allow the game to slip away from them and responded with a pair of goals of their own. Reed found Reynolds open on the right alley and the Bel Air, Md., native ripped an overhand shot past Ghitelman for his second straight hat trick. Catalino followed that up with his first goal of the game, an unassisted score from the left alley. The freshman from Webster, N.Y., used his entire 6-foot-5 frame to screen Ghitelman, who didnt see the shot until it was already in the goal.

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2008-03-29