Joe Garino Jr attempts to get the ball during the Terps’ 9-6 loss against Ohio State at Byrd Stadium on April 25, 2015.
In the week leading up to the Terrapins men’s lacrosse team’s Big Ten tournament semifinal game against Ohio State, coach John Tillman contemplated whether to play oft-injured faceoff specialist Charlie Raffa.
After sustaining several vicious hits during the Terps’ 15-12 loss to Johns Hopkins last Saturday, Raffa lost his final four faceoffs before Tillman pulled him in the final period.
So during the week, Tillman weighed his options: play the All-American with a berth in the tournament finals on the line or turn to reserves faceoff specialist Jon Garino Jr. and midfielder Andrew Walsh.
Raffa began the game on the sideline. But as Ohio State gained steam with a late flurry Thursday, the senior trotted out to the X with less 12 minutes remaining in the game. Raffa went 0-for-3, failing to ignite a Terps comeback in their 9-6 loss.
“When he’s really good, we are a different team,” Tillman said. “You kind of have to factor in, ‘Do you get today but lose tomorrow?’ You also have to worry about the well being of a young guy who you saw last year is willing to run through a brick wall and crawl off the field.”
Walsh and Garino were no match for Buckeyes faceoff specialist Christopher May, who ranks 10th in the nation with a .613 faceoff percentage. May went 11-for-17 and forced the Terps’ top-ranked defense to defend for significant portions of the game. Ohio State outshot the Terps, 27-22, and eventually turned the increased possessions into a lead.
Garino has served as Raffa’s primary backup in each of the past two seasons. The sophomore has seen increased playing time this year, though, with Raffa often relegated to the sideline. Walsh, meanwhile, has a .405 faceoff percentage.
Saturday, the duo was overmatched. At one point, Tillman turned to midfielder Bobby Gribbin, who was unsuccessful at his only battle at the X.
“We tried to do some different things on the wings. But again, give Ohio State credit,” Tillman said. “I thought May did a great job. [Their] wings were good. We just had to find out how we could get possessions in other ways.”
Raffa didn’t fare much better, though. After midfielder David Planning put the Buckeyes ahead 6-5 with 11:47 left in the game, Raffa suffered a faceoff violation on his first attempt. By the time he lost his third faceoff, the Terps trailed 8-5.
Raffa’s health status has been a common issue for the Terps this season. The team, Tillman said, typically plays better with the senior on the field. Behind a 15-for-22 performance from Raffa against North Carolina on March 21, the Terps knocked off the then-No. 2 Tar Heels, 10-8.
And in the Johns Hopkins game, the Terps took a 5-3 lead in the first quarter after Raffa won his first five faceoffs. But as the game wore on, and the hits kept coming — his efficiency diminished — and the Terps couldn’t hold their lead.
Despite Raffa’s ineffectiveness Thursday, Tillman said Raffa wanted to stay in the game after losing his first three draws.
“I, candidly, just pulled him out,” Tillman said. “There was really nothing to gain. We were down four goals with about a minute-and-a-half left.”
Throughout his four years with the Terps, Raffa has played through physical setbacks. And as his career winds down, he doesn’t watch to keep watching games from the sideline.
Raffa told Tillman he felt fine to start before Saturday’s game. But Tillman had other things to consider.
“Our concern with Charlie is not so much how he feels now,” Tillman said. “The concern is we put him in there, something happens, and all of a sudden he’s never right again. Sometimes we have to save him from himself.
