It wasn’t the prettiest goal, but the Terrapin men’s lacrosse team definitely didn’t mind.
With the Terps tied with Denver in the third quarter of Saturday’s first-round NCAA tournament game at Byrd Stadium, junior midfielder Dan Groot tossed the ball across the front of the Pioneer net.
The Terps, who had battled back from an early three-goal deficit, caught a break when the ball caromed off the stick of a Denver defender and trickled into the net, giving them their first lead of the game.
“That was like the turning point of the game,” freshman attackman Grant Catalino said. “We were looking for that time when the ball would fall our way, and it kind of literally fell our way and into the goal.”
The No. 7-seed Terps took advantage of the momentum swing and never trailed again, using a smothering, second-half defensive performance en route to a 10-7 win. They advance to play No. 2-seed Virginia – who beat UMBC 10-9 Sunday – on Saturday in Annapolis.
Denver stormed to a 5-2 lead, effectively using its unconventional offensive style to create some easy scoring opportunities. But the Terps, who were 0-5 in the regular season when trailing after the first quarter, countered with three man-up goals in the final 7:08 of the half to tie the score, leaving the Terps feeling good about their positioning for the comeback.
The Terps outshot the Pioneers 29-12 in the first half and picked up six more ground balls with eight fewer turnovers.
“I don’t think we played a bad first half. We just weren’t winning,” coach Dave Cottle said. “I thought we played as well in the first half as we did in the second half, but the ball didn’t bounce our way, and we kept playing.”
In the second half, the Terps’ defense took control, blanking the Pioneers in the third quarter as part of a 30:08 scoreless streak. It forced a season-high 29 turnovers in the game.
“The defense played tremendous,” said Terp goalie and sophomore Brian Phipps, who played the second half and made six saves. “The whole philosophy was they like to shoot inside, so keep them outside and we’ll be successful.”
Led by senior Joe Cinosky (four caused turnovers, four ground balls) and sophomore Brian Farrell (four caused turnovers, five ground balls), the defense also helped fuel the Terp offense.
After Groot’s goal gave the Terps the lead, freshman attackman Ryan Young finished an easy scoring opportunity generated off a failed Denver clear. Early in the fourth quarter, Cinosky scored his first goal of the season when no one stepped up to stop him as he brought the ball down in transition off a Pioneer turnover.
“The biggest problem was in the third quarter – we turned it over in transition,” Denver coach Jamie Munro said. “Unfortunately, you take a shot that’s a little out of your range in transition, and it’s coming right back down on you. It just wore us out.”
Denver managed a pair of fourth-quarter goals against Phipps to cut the Terp lead to two with 4:22 remaining, but the Terps were able to possess the ball and ice the game when senior midfielder Drew Evans weaved through a double team for an open net goal with 1:01 on the clock.
After a frustrating regular season where the Terps were unable to overcome poor starts, they finally got it right before a home crowd with their season on the line.
“We just kept at it,” Cinosky said. “Nothing changed. We kept the same game plan. We just kind of put our heads down and worked through it.”
Now the young Terps move on to a rematch with Virginia, which split the season series with the Terps.
Catalino, who was one of five Terps to notch at least two points with two goals and two assists, said he is excited to see what happens now that his team has entered its tournament mindset.
“I really don’t know what to expect, but the intensity and passion that the guys on the team had this game was incredible,” Catalino said. “I expect it to be even more in the next game.”
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