NCAA DI Men’s Champions Third Time’s a Charm for Maryland 5/29/17

Photo Credit: Kevin S. Clancy

Justin Ivey, NCAA Correspondent
Lacrosse is Awesome

For the third year in a row, Maryland lacrosse found themselves playing on the last day of championship weekend.  In 2015, they couldn’t overcome a strong Denver team and in 2016 they lost a heartbreaker in overtime against North Carolina.  In 2017, an Ohio State team that they played twice already this year stood in the way.  Both teams won one game apiece, but both only by one goal.  This time, Maryland outplayed them in all aspects to take home the trophy for the first time since 1975.  Final Score: Maryland 9—Ohio State 6.

On the overcast Monday afternoon, with rain in the forecast, Maryland and Ohio State lined up for the opening face-off at Gillette Stadium.  Ohio State would come away with it after a false start.  Neither team would score on their first possession, but Ohio State senior attackman Austin Shanks (1G) got the scoreboard working 3:58 in.  His shake n’ bake dodge from the side of the net caused his defender to stumble and he easily side armed the ball into the far side of the net.  Ohio State would also get the first penalty of the afternoon.  A push with possession forced them into a man down situation just over four minutes later.  They would successfully last it out, but Maryland with the long possession found an opportunity.  Junior attackmen Tim Rotanz (3G) dodged by his defender, saw a slide come slowly, and fired to hit top shelf.  Game tied with 5:53 left in the first.  Ohio State would answer on the next possession.  Colin Chell (1G) came from behind the net and around a solid pick from Jack Jasinski reaching goal line extended and buried the shot up top.  To keep the back and forth going, Maryland’s Adam DeMillo (2G) would run in from the top corner with a full head of steam, squeaking by his defender to bury one low.  That goal would be the start of a four-goal run by the Terrapins.  The next would also come in the first quarter, as Junior midfielder Connor Kelly (1G) lost his man behind the net, curled around and let one rip.  The first quarter would end with Maryland leading Ohio State 3-2.

The run continued for Maryland in the second quarter with goals from Dylan Maltz (2G, 1A) and DeMillo.  Maltz’s goal came 2:23 into the second quarter, to end a Maryland possession that lasted the whole beginning of the frame.  Ohio State turned away a whole bunch of isolation drives from up high, but Maltz found his opportunity from behind the net, bouncing his shot to the far post.  DeMillo’s second of the game, putting Maryland up 5-3, was the product of a beautiful feed from Senior attackman Matt Rambo (1G, 1A).  The goal came with 9:43 remaining, and would be the last goal of the quarter.  Both teams would have opportunities, but the defenses accepted the challenge.  At halftime, Maryland would lead Ohio State 5-2.

Ohio State needed life in the second half.  After starting strong, their second quarter goose egg was a disappointment.  Logan Maccani (1G) would get them on the right track, scoring 4:07 into the half.  He picked up the rebound after a fast break save, and found twine bringing Ohio State to within two goals.  With 6:30 left in the third, the rain would start.  One minute later, Maryland would get the three-goal lead back and start a three-goal run.  Maltz would draw the double coming from behind the net and pass off to Rotanz for his second of the game.  The rest of the third would be sloppy, and scoreless.  At the end of three, Maryland led Ohio State 6-3.

To start off the fourth, Maltz, assisting on the first goal of the run, would score the second 1:47 in.  Coming off the pick on the backside of the net, he gained a step on his defender, spun and found an opening at the five-hole.  Rambo, who had been held in check for the first three quarters, only tallying one assist, would score the third.  Dancing from behind the crease, his hesitation move froze the sliding defender.  Cutting back to the net, he stepped above the goal line, was pushed and still found the net.  With only 10:36 remaining, Ohio State found themselves down 8-3.  Jake Withers (1G), the Ohio State Senior face-off man, won the ensuing face-off and took it in himself, scoring just 12 seconds after Rambo for Maryland.  It started an Ohio State run to try and get back in the game.  Over five minutes of scoreless lacrosse followed until Tre Leclaire (1G, 1A) came around a high pick and let loose a cannon to cut the deficit back to three goals.  The sense of urgency for Ohio State was evident in the play selection.  In fact, it would work again.  Two and a half minutes later, Leclaire would come around the same pick, but this time pass the ball across the top to Johnny Pearson (1G).  With 2:25 remaining Ohio State found themselves down by only two and on a streak of three unanswered goals.  They won the ensuing face-off, but a Leclaire shot was saved.  Maryland cleared the ball, and with defensive urgency, Ohio State goalie Tom Carey came out to double.  Seeing the opening, Rotanz completed his hat trick, letting the ball fly from three yards above the box.  With 59 seconds remaining, Ohio State wouldn’t be able to complete the comeback.  Final Score: Maryland 9—Ohio State 6.

Justin Ivey, NCAA Correspondent
Lacrosse is Awesome