COLLEGE PARK, Md. (April 4, 2008) -- The University of Maryland mens lacrosse team mounted a valiant comeback attempt, but it fell one goal short in a 5-4 loss to No. 9 Navy Friday night in front of 7,106 fans at Chevy Chase Bank Field at Byrd Stadium.

The Midshipmen built a 5-0 lead through the first 30 minutes of play, but the Terps came out from halftime determined to climb back into the contest. The Terrapins were finally able to break through a staunch Navy defense at the 4:04 mark of the third quarter. Freshman attackman Ryan Young picked up the first of his two assists by dumping a pass to the right side of the crease where senior midfielder Drew Evans banged it home to get the Terps on the board.

Senior Max Ritz and junior Dan Groot hooked up for the next two Maryland scores, converting on both of the Terrapins man-up opportunities. Groot scored with 1:30 left in the third off an assist by Ritz. Groot then returned the favor by assisting Ritzs man-up score at the 9:30 mark. That goal made the game 5-3 in favor of Navy, but all of the momentum was on Marylands side.

That momentum continued less than two minutes later when sophomore long pole Dan Halayko caused a turnover, which led to the next Maryland goal. Halayko stripped Tim Paul and senior defenseman Joe Cinosky pushed the ball up the field. The ball eventually found its way to Young and he fed it to fellow freshman Grant Catalino, who beat Navy goalie Tommy Phelan one-on-one to trim the lead to 5-4.

But thats where the Maryland comeback would end. The Terps did have one final shot at tying the game as the clock ticked down. Redshirt junior goalie Jason Carter caused a turnover with 23 seconds left. Cinosky grabbed the groundball and fired a pass ahead to redshirt junior midfielder Jeff Reynolds, who fired a shot but it sailed high over the Midshipman goal.

Sophomore Brian Phipps made eight saves for the Terps in the first 30:00, while Carter had six stops in the final two quarters. Cinosky led the Terrapin defense with five groundballs and three caused turnovers. Sophomore short-stick middie Bryn Holmes had three groundballs and two caused turnovers.

Maryland (7-3) returns action next Saturday in its 104th meeting with long-time rival Johns Hopkins. The Terps and the Blue Jays are scheduled for a 2:00 p.m. start at Homewood Field on April 12.

Game Notes:

With todays 5-4 loss Maryland is now 50-32-1 all-time vs. Navy.

With a goal and an assist Max Ritz now has 32 multi-point games in his career.

Dan Groots two-point game now gives him 16 multi-point games in his career.

With two assists Ryan Young now has eight career multi-point games.

The Maryland defense held the Mids without a goal for 30:44 during the second, third and fourth quarters, giving the D its fourth 20+ minute scoring drought of the season.

* * * *

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Anchored by a stingy defense that kept third-ranked Maryland scoreless for the first 41 minutes of the contest, the No. 9 Navy men's lacrosse team held off a furious comeback by the Terps to earn a 5-4 victory Friday night at Byrd Stadium in College Park. The one-goal Navy decision marks the fifth game this season for the Midshipmen that has been decided by one goal.

The first quarter featured a combined 14 turnovers between the two teams and 12 shots, including a 10-yarder by sophomore midfielder Patrick Moran (Annapolis, Md.) that managed to find its way through Maryland keeper Brian Phipps' legs to give the Mids a 1-0 lead seven minutes into the contest. Navy's offense flourished in the second quarter, as the Mids put 10 of their 14 shots on goal, scoring four goals by quarter's end. The first was a bouncer by second-year middie Joe Lennon (Westminster, Md.) from 13 yards out at the 11:47 mark.

1 2 3    Next  »

2008-04-05