It was a rough final game for the Terrapin men’s lacrosse team’s seniors.
It certainly was not how they pictured their final game at Byrd Stadium.
For 13 Terps, a May 13 loss at the hands of in-state opponent University of Maryland, Baltimore County represented a bitter way to end a collegiate career. The Terps entered the tournament assuming they’d be underdogs from the second round on, but never made it to the second round. Instead, an upset loss ended a relative down year for one of college lacrosse’s top programs.
“Right away we were kind of in shock,” junior midfielder Drew Evans said. “I think everyone expected to win. It didn’t really sink in till a couple days later that we were never going to play with the seniors again.”
It was a season of low expectations and high adversity for the No. Terps (10-6, 1-2 ACC). After losing their top four scorers from 2006, including first-team All-Americans Joe Walters and Bill McGlone, the Terps were expected to experience a bit of a down year.
Walters, the all-time leading scorer in school history, was missed at times throughout the season, as lead attackmen Michael Phipps and Max Ritz only showed flashes of the ability to take over a game, as Walters was capable. Instead, the Terps relied on a number of key players, even abandoning their traditional slow-paced offensive sets often in favor of a high-octane transition game.
The faster pace helped the Terps dominate lesser opponents, such as an 18-3 romp over Mount Saint Mary’s, and helped put pressure on tougher teams, giving a new look to the Terp offense. And that look is here to stay.
“Hopefully we’re done slowing down the ball,” coach Dave Cottle said. “[Transition]’s going to be our bread and butter. That’s going to be how we get our offense going.”
The Terps predicated themselves mostly on a tenacious defense led by second-team All-Americans Steve Whittenberg and Ray Megill. The Terps forced 232 turnovers and picked up over 100 more ground balls than their opponents. But even the defense, which was often the solid foundation for the Terps, went through adversity all season.
The Terps’ top two goalies, senior Harry Alford and junior Jason Carter, missed most of the season with shoulder injuries, forcing freshman Brian Phipps into the cage. Phipps responded with poise and showed immense potential before Alford returned to cage for the final three games.
Phipps’ success was crucial for the Terps, and after a few rough games early, including a 14-7 shelling at the hands of Duke, Phipps settled in and looked brilliant at times.
“He carried us in some games. Without him we don’t win that Navy game,” senior long pole Ryan Clarke said. “I just couldn’t believe the poise he had being a freshman. When I was a freshman, I played but they didn’t ask me to do nearly half the things he’s had to do as a freshman.”
Phipps was one of several Terp freshmen to play a major role for the Terps. Short stick Bryn Holmes became known for his big checks and tenacious play, while long pole Brian Farrell led the Terp defenders with five goals and four assists. And midfielder Adam Sear, an Australian native, began his Terp career with six goals and six assists on the second midfield line. Cottle called his freshman class the most mature group he has seen at the university.
The Terps also received a substantial and unexpected boost from sophomore Butler-transfer Jeremy Sieverts, who scored 15 goals and played both attack and midfield after joining the Terps in January.
The play of those newcomers as well as an outstanding incoming freshman class gives the Terps a bright future. Sophomore Dan Groot is a rising star who scored 21 goals in a third-team All-American season. And starters Max Ritz, Drew Evans and Joe Cinosky are all returning after solid junior campaigns to provide the Terps with a strong senior base.
It’s been 32 years since the last Terp national championship. But with a stronghold of returning talent and a top-three incoming recruiting class, Cottle genuinely believes he may finally be able to break the streak. With archrival Johns Hopkins taking home the trophy this season, Cottle has been forced to evaluate his situation, but he is optimistic.
“I see our personel really picking up,” Cottle said. “There’s got to be a reason that it’s been 32 years. So we have to look at what’s happened in the past so we can learn from it. We’ve got to find a way to win at Maryland.”
For the graduating senior class, it is too late to take home their own ring. But they can say they were instrumental in a program trying to take itself to the top.
Contact reporter Adi Joseph at ajosephdbk@gmail.com.
