FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – Maryland has a chance at redemption.
After the Terrapins’ 2016 season ended in heartbreak, losing to North Carolina in the national championship game, coach John Tillman’s group has again earned a berth in 2017’s NCAA title bout.
This go around, Maryland downed the Denver Pioneers, 9-8, at Gillette Stadium on Saturday afternoon, placing the nation’s top team on the precipice of its 12th national title.
“That game could have gone any way,” Tillman said. “It literally was a game of inches.”
Maryland’s recipe for success had all the ingredients needed on Memorial Day Weekend, chief among them being key players thriving when the moment demanded it.
Matt Rambo, who now holds the Terrapins’ all-time goal scoring record at 154, finished with two points. Colin Heacock, meanwhile, netted two goals in the first half, including one akin to a golfer whipping out his nine iron. Connor Kelly, often dodging from from the restraining line, added a hat trick of his own. And, last but not least, Dylan Maltz scored a pair of his own.
Top to bottom, Tillman’s big guns simply delivered.
“You know, John Orsen, my defensive assistant, said in the locker room, you know, it was a great college lacrosse game,” said Denver coach Bill Tierney. “And you know, a long time ago my dad told me don't play sports if you think you're going to win every time. Somebody's going to win, somebody's going to lose, and that was a great, great game from two great teams.”
What stood out about Maryland’s showing, though, was how it never let Denver’s offense amass prolonged scoring runs.
The Pioneers thrice went on a two-goal stretch, but every run was immediately followed by a Maryland response. In fact, Denver was held to scoreless runs spanning 16:42 and 10:18 — largely a testament to Dan Morris’ eight saves and Tim Muller’s subtly strong outing, which included three caused turnovers.
“We trust our defense,” Heacock said. “Dan Morris in the cage, he was excellent today. And we had Tim Muller, Bryce Young. So really just on the offensive end we couldn't do much besides watch, but we had a lot of trust in our defense.”
Plaudits, of course, go to Maryland’s defense, but just as deserving of recognition is its ability to keep Trevor Baptiste quiet on the faceoff x. And the same Baptiste who’s a Tewaaraton Award finalist and First Team All-American honoree.
The Terrapins sent John Garino Jr. and Austin Henningsen the junior’s way, but he went 10-of-21, all after going 44-of-49 prior in the NCAA Tournament. From that, Denver could never get out in transition and kick its fast-break offense into second gear.
“Chris Mattes, our faceoff coach, did an awesome job this week,” Tillman said. “I thought Austin was really on the whistle early, and then got a couple. Then psychologically I think that was really helpful for us, because everybody kept talking about how good [Baptiste] is, and he is all that. The percentages kind of bear that out.”
Looking ahead, Maryland will take on Ohio State on Monday for all the marbles, as the Buckeyes ended Towson’s dream postseason run in the other semifinal.
The Big Ten foes met May 6, with the Terrapins earning a 10-9 win. They also met April 22, with the Buckeyes eeking out a 10-9 overtime win.
They know each other like the back of their hand, but now a grander stage awaits.
A trophy awaits.
“They're one of the most complete teams we'll face coming out of the Big Ten,” Kelly said. “It's 1-1 right now, but we have a lot of respect for them. We're excited about that matchup.