Maryland @ UMBC

[jdturtle02]

With all the marquee battles on this weekend's schedule, it would be easy to overlook this Old Line State grudge match. But you can bet the Terrapins aren't. The Retrievers ended Maryland's roller coaster season last year in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at Byrd Stadium, a 13-9 whipping that stood tall among a season of improbable upsets.

UMBC started the 2008 campaign with a lot of questions and a re-tooled attack. Adding to the pressure was a demanding schedule. The Retrievers have already faced four ranked opponents. They have won two of their last three, and battled then-No. 1 Johns Hopkins close before bowing 10-8 at Homewood. This is UMBC's biggest remaining non-conference contest before their America East wars begin, and Coach Don Zimmerman is going to have his players stoked.

Given all that, the Retrievers' 2-3 record may be misleading. Their main scoring threats are small by major D-I standards. Senior midfielder Terry Kimener (8g/10a) is the "big guy" at 6-2 and 180; and attackman Ryan Smith (9/1) and middie Kyle Wimer (5/4) come in at 175. Alex Hopmann (4/3) tips the scale at 165 or so, but his impact is far greater than his 5-9 frame and stats would suggest. Soph Maxx Davis scored twice against Hopkins and Yale -- taking a line from Jurassic Park, he "just finds a way." Last year the talented and speedy UMBC midfield frustrated a lot of good defenses -- including the Terps -- and early indications are that hasn't changed much.

On paper, Maryland appears to have the edge across the board. The Terps have faced three ranked teams, going 2-1, and on average are outscoring their opponents 12-8. They have two freshmen attackmen vying for "frosh of the year" honors in Travis Reed (13/1) and Ryan Young (6/9), with Grant Catalino (9/2) not far behind. Despite their youth, this is the most improved unit for the 6th-ranked Terps. The midfield matches UMBC's scoring punch, but has a considerable advantage in beef and brawn -- Dan Groot (6/4), Jeremy Sieverts (4/4), Will Dalton (3g), LSM Brian Farrell (2/1), Jeff Reynolds (5g), Max Ritz and Tony Mendes are among 12 Terps scoring multiple goals for Maryland. This may be Coach Dave Cottle's deepest team ever at College Park. Quint Kessenich calls them the "Baby Terps," and word has it that adds to their focus and determination.

Jeremy Blevins has faced relentless pressure in cage for UMBC, facing 172 shots and giving up 10.86 goals per game against Delaware, Rutgers, Denver, Hopkins and Yale. His .518 save percentage, however, is comparable to both Maryland goalies: Brian Phipps (.559) and Jason Carter (.511). The Retrievers can't afford penalties though, the Terps boast a notable advantage in both man-up scoring and man-down defense.

Emotion, pride, program prestige, David and Goliath, NCAA tournament implications, great coaching match-up … it'll all be on display at UMBC Stadium in Catonsville Friday night. And it will all be settled in time for me to get to Homewood Field for the "big game" Saturday afternoon. Got my raincoat packed … seems it always rains on Maryland vs. UMBC.

Maryland 13-9

[HotShotLacrosse]

I think UMBC wins if they can control the ball, limit penalties and do better in face offs then they have been. Blevins imo is a solid goalie but the Retriever defence needs to limit the shots he takes. Retriever offense needs to take their time settle the ball and control the clock, and most important UMBC will not win playing man down. I call for this to be a good game.

GO UMBC!!! :thumbsup:

[stegmakk]

Ahhh...JD I was waiting for your preview...
I have MD winning by 4...as hotshot says...UMBC's defense has to keep the baby terps in check so Blevins doesn't get shelled...
If UMBC does this they do have a chance...if not (and i think not) then MD unleashes the turtle power

[jdturtle02]

Thanks Steg-man ... And now that I've shed the coat of impartiality, I agree with you guys. If there was an "upset watch" list, I'd add this game to it. We have Coach Zimmerman to thank for that, he's built UMBC into a proud program. It's fun to watch the Retrievers play -- they're fundamentally one of the best teams out there, along with Navy, week in and week out. With ball control and a few breaks ... well, let's just say when UMBC has the ball they're a threat.

"UMBC's defense has to keep the baby terps in check so Blevins doesn't get shelled..." -- That's probably the best, most powerful one-line game analysis I've ever read ... and as a veteran and Maryland grad, it's funny as hell. (Imagine the kneel and bowing routine) ... Don't forget to post the "gameday poll," I talked it up in another thread and have received a few hate emails 'cause it hasn't appeared yet.

[HotShotLacrosse]

I am upset that I dont get to watch the game, because I live in Florida only get the NCAA playoffs and 1-2 regular season games. :angry: could someone post the score at halftime tomorrow? :)

[roycegracie47]

Anybody with MASN may want to turn it on, the game is underway. Hotshot I'll post updates as best I can for ya.

Only a few minutes in and UMBC has scored. 1-0

Edit, score for UMD by Mendez, all even 1-1.

2-1 UMBC, goal by Latham.
3-1 UMBC EMO goal by Hopmann. UMBC looks to be in the driver seat of this one, UMD's making too many mistakes & turnovers this early on.

UMD opens Q2 with a goal by Catalino, making it 3-2.
3-3, own goal by UMBC (Blevins made the initial save and then kicked it in), came off a great break by Farrell (it was a really good defensive series all around for the Terps). Catalino follows it up for UMD to take the lead 4-3. I don't know what Cottle said to his guys between quarters but the Terps have woken up.

Hopmann will even it up on a bounce shot for UMBC. 4-4.

Q3 is scoreless keeping things at 4-4, Carter did a good job for the Terps inside the pipes. What were the penalties that made it 5 on 5? Lief said it was possible fighting, but there were a bunch of other things thrown in as well after the initial turnover by UMBC.

Q4 has a score right away by Wimer for UMBC to break the stalemate. 5-4 Retrievers.

Hoppman for the hat trick, 6-4 Retrievers (Lief also gets the hat trick for his "rips rope" comments).
Ritz closes the gap to one, 6-5 UMBC.

Wimer beats the desperation check by Farrell and makes it 7-5 UMBC. Dalton answers almost immediately for the Terps off the F/O, it's now 7-6 UMBC.

Evans ties it up. 7-7 with 2:39 left to play. It looked like Dalton was going to score again before getting quad teamed, but draws the penalty. On the EMO Sieverts gives the Terps the lead with under 2 minutes to play. Now UMBC is getting an EMO opportunity themselves off the face.

5.8 seconds left to go and Smith sneaks in there to tie the game up. It almost looked like UMBC was going to run out of time but this is going to OT. Scratch that, it's headed to 2OT.

3.5 seconds left and a potential game winner by Ritz is waived off for a crease violation, the game is going into Triple OT.

[HotShotLacrosse]

OMG please post the second it happens!!!!!!!!!:imparied:

[roycegracie47]

OMG please post the second it happens!!!!!!!!!:imparied:

You'll know as soon as I do. There's 2:32 in 3OT left. It's a real shame you couldn't get this game, it has been one of the better ball games I've seen.

Edit - With 1.5 seconds to go Davis beats Carter and UMBC wins it! Final Score 9-8.

Really impressive game by both teams. Davis may have won, but big credit to Blevins for making some real big saves to keep the Terps from the win. Both teams played an all around phenomenal game.

[HotShotLacrosse]

YES!!!! UMBC wins, go Retrievers! I think as the season goes on UMBC is definitely getting better.

Any other scores available from today?

[jdturtle02]

UMBC 9-8 (3 OT)
Who says lightning doesn't strike the same place twice? With 1.3 seconds left in the third overtime period last night at UMBC Stadium, Maxx Davis fired a bolt past goalie Jason Carter and straight through the heart of the No. 6 Terrapins, the second straight shocker by the Retrievers in this series. The packed stands erupted, students began chanting, "NIT … NIT …," and giddy fans contemplated what they had just witnessed:

"This is the greatest game, like, ever in the history of lacrosse," a youngster yelled … Quickly followed by a humbling, "Well, that's going a bit far. But probably the greatest game ever here." It was good to see the controlled delirium under the partially burned out lights in Catonsville. UMBC, just 10 days after giving Hopkins all it could handle, fired a warning shot to the America East Conference and let Lax Nation know the Retrievers are on track for a return to the NCAA Tournament.

It didn't take long for the Retrievers to give their fans what they wanted, jumping out to a 3-1 lead by the 2:35 mark of the first quarter. Terry Kimener (Sr/M), Matt Latham (So/A) and Alex Hopmann (Jr/M) broke through some pretty solid defense to set the tone, and UMBC employed its own "Velcro" man-to-man to keep Maryland off balance. The strategy seemed simple enough, ride and double up anyone who puts a foot inside the box, and God help anyone who approaches the crease. It worked almost to perfection. The Terps finished the first quarter ahead in ground balls (10-7) and face-offs (5-0), but also in turnovers (8-4).

Maryland then scored the next three goals to claim a 4-3 lead late in the second period. Grant Catalino (Fr/A), Brian Farrell (So/LSM) and Jeff Reynolds (Jr/M) gave the Terps hope, but Hopmann scored his second goal for UMBC off a feed from Kimener two minutes before halftime to end the run and knot the score at 4-4.

After a scoreless third, both teams scorched the twine four times in the fourth quarter. But it was UMBC taking the lead and the Terps playing catch-up. Maryland overcame two-goal deficits twice in the final nine minutes. A three-goal tear by Will Dalton, Drew Evans and Max Ritz -- who started at attack -- over a two minute stretch finally gave the Terps an 8-7 lead with 1:50 to play. But everyone in the stadium sensed that wasn't going to be enough.

UMBC won the ensuing face-off, and seconds later, defenseman Bryn Holmes was called for an illegal body check giving the Retrievers an EMO for 1 minute. The crowd went berserk, but so did the Maryland defense, which successfully killed the penalty. The Terps nearly caused a turnover and covered the Retrievers like syrup on pancakes as the clock wound down, but with 5.8 seconds left in regulation attackman Ryan Smith took a feed from Kimener and cranked in the tying score.

Maryland had more chances than UMBC to win the game in the extra periods, holding an 8-2 advantage in ground balls and a 3-2 edge in shots. Jeremy Blevins was terrific in cage for the Retrievers, with 11 saves including a point-blank shot in the first overtime. Brian Phipps and Jason Carter combined for 11 saves for the Terps.

This was a tremendous win for UMBC. Maryland played well most of the night, but the Retrievers were one step ahead throughout. Alex Hopman (3g/1a), Kyle Wimer (2/1, 7gb) and Maxx Davis (1/2) were the offensive stars. Long pole Mike Camardo and Bobby Atwell, along with Blevins, kept the Terrapins' offense in check. A couple of guys at the head of this thread called that as the recipe for success; hope they enjoyed this game as much as the UMBC Stadium crowd. It was a great game.

Had a chance to chat with Dave Pietramala before the game. Asked him if he reads TLF, and he said, "No, never!" But I saw that sparkle in his eye. Okay, so maybe the staff fills him in. When he asked how I see the game tomorrow (uh, today), I told him Hopkins by two. He grinned and said, "I’ll take it." Good thing that was before either of us knew how badly I blew this one.

[dedwards]

Cottle outcoached again by Zimms???????????????

[spenny]

Cottle outcoached again by Zimms???????????????

he should be, zimmerman has won 3 national championships as a player, 2 or 3 as an assistant, and 3 as head coach.

i'll take him anytime over cottle.

[jdturtle02]

Ouch! ... but spenny speaks the truth ... as far as the national championships on the resume are concerned. But in all fairness, I'd say the deck was stacked in Zimmerman's favor coaching at Carolina and Hopkins while Cottle was doing the bulk of his work at Loyola. Fourth winningest active coach in America is a pretty good record. I mentioned last year I believe Cottle is building something special at Maryland, and it appears he's on track. It's great to see these two go at each other, but in College Park Cottle holds the edge against Zimmerman and UMBC 6-2, and he dominated UMBC at Loyola as well.

[ddurose]

I would love to get my hands on a copy of this game on tape. I'm sad I missed it. Anyone know who to contact or how I can find a copy of the game on video?