Last year, the Terrapin men’s lacrosse team beat opponents in almost every major statistical category. It had a higher shooting percentage, picked up more ground balls, had fewer turnovers and a higher clear percentage.
But there was one statistic the Terps usually lost — faceoffs.
This year, they lead in every major statistical category.
Junior David Tamberrino, sophomore Thomas Alford and freshman Will Dalton have combined to win a majority of the season’s faceoffs and give the Terps more offensive possessions.
The Terps have won 57 percent of this year’s faceoffs compared to 46 percent last year and 47 percent in 2003.
Considering the offense has periodically struggled with shooting percentage this season, winning more faceoffs has helped neutralize their deficiencies by simply giving them more chances.
“It’s been our Achilles the last two or three years,” junior attackman Joe Walters said. “To get a guy who’s winning a lot of faceoffs, that helps the offense because we get more possessions and keeps it out of our defensive end. Faceoffs are crucial, and I’m happy we’re winning them.”
A rule change instituted this season has helped Tamberrino get more control of the ball. The rule starts players’ sticks farther from the ball, requiring them to stay on their own side of the midfield line. The change helps smaller faceoff specialists, such as the 5-foot-8, 190-pound Tamberrino. He has won 63 percent of his attempts this season, including 14 of 18 against UMBC. Last year, Tamberrino won 50 percent of his tries.
“The rule change really helped,” he said. “It helps me out because I’m pretty quick on the ball. If it’s cleaner, I can get a better grasp and can get on the ball.”
Dalton, who also plays some offensive midfield, is more of a bruiser. But he’s doing just fine despite the rule change.
Dalton uses his 6-foot-5-inch, 245-pound frame to push his opponent off the ball and provide big hits to incoming wingmen. Against North Carolina, Tamberrino and Alford combined to go 2 for 8 to begin the game. Dalton came in and finished the game, winning 6 of 9.
Alford won 42 of 89 faceoffs last year. He began this season splitting time with Tamberrino but took fewer faceoffs as the season has progressed.
“It’s so much improving,” coach Dave Cottle said. “From last year to this year, they won almost every faceoff, and we’ve won a majority of them this year. The result is that your turnovers don’t have as much meaning. I think [Tamberrino] put a lot of time and effort into it.”
Wingmen sophomore midfielders James Borell and Ryan Clarke have been a big part of the Terps’ success, scooping up ground balls and out-muscling their opponents. Tamberrino and UMBC coach Don Zimmerman attributed the Terps’ success against UMBC to their play.
“We put in a lot of work over the offseason,” Tamberrino said. “We work more now in practice with the wing guys, so we have a relationship with them. Last year, we didn’t really work on it in practice at all.”
