When the nominees for the Tewaaraton Trophy, the highest award in college lacrosse, were announced yesterday, two Terrapin men’s lacrosse players made the cut.
One nominee was attackman Grant Catalino, the team’s points leader and the face of the Terps’ high-octane attack.
The other selection, long pole Brian Farrell, is a defenseman more renowned for his offensive prowess than his solid play on the Terps’ backline.
It’s an irony largely emblematic of the season thus far for the No. 5 Terps (7-2). With a handful of top-flight attackmen and four dependable midfield lines, the Terps’ offense has attracted attention all season, largely overshadowing a defense that has remained a steadying — if not stellar — force.
While the backline has put up mediocre statistics, allowing an average of about nine goals per game to opponents, the unit has provided a steady cast of players to back up and lend stability to an explosive and ever-changing front line.
“I think we’ve played better than the stats have shown,” goalie Brian Phipps said. “We’ve given up some easy goals here and there that we’d like to take back, but I think it’s nice playing with a veteran group.”
Phipps is the lone starter in cage for the first time in his career, and the senior captain’s teammates have called him a defensive anchor.
Phipps, though, has been supported with several other backline regulars. Juniors Max Schmidt, Brett Schmidt and Ryder Bohlander have played almost exclusively at close defense, and all have started every Terps’ game this season. And with Farrell back from last season’s injury and fellow defensemen Dan Halayko and Jesse Bernhardt backing him up, the Terps are far from a question mark at that position.
“When the ball’s not on our end, you feel a sense of comfort knowing those guys all know what they’re doing,” attackman Ryan Young said. “So we feel really comfortable having them on the field.”
Although the Terps have yet to hold an opponent to fewer than seven goals this season, they’ve also never allowed more than 13. And in each game this season, the Terps have held their opponent under its season scoring average.
Though all three defensemen are juniors, three-year starter Max Schmidt, who earned All-ACC and third team All America honors last season, serves as the senior member of the unit. After moving from long pole to close defense last year, Brett Schmidt was named an Inside Lacrosse midseason All America pick. And according to coach Dave Cottle, Bohlander, a new starter this season, has helped the Terps finish 87 percent of their clears.
“I think there’s work to do,” Bohlander said. “This is the first year the three of us have started together, and I think we were going through some growing pains early on. But we’re looking better and better, and I think we’re an athletic group, and we’re looking forward to putting everything together. We haven’t really played our best game yet.”
yanchulis@umdbk.com
