Maryland-Michigan Lacrosse: Terps roll Wolverines 13-5

With their schedule about to be raised quite a few notches higher, Maryland went on the road to Michigan looking to remain undefeated and keep the train rolling before two big ACC games vs North Carolina and Virginia. The Terps did just that and won 13-5.

Jon Garino took the opening FO for the Terrapins and won it. After two shots that missed wide from Matt Rambo and Mike Chanenchuk, Michigan forced a TO and went down and scored on their first shot through Thomas Paras. Michigan would take the next FO and held an extended offensive possession until they got a shot on cage which was saved by Niko Amato. Maryland got a few shots off on their next offensive possession as well and finally took advantage through Henry West to tie it at 1. Maryland's went back on offense with around 5 minutes and left and Chanenchuk got a shot on cage but it was stopped by Zonino. After a save by Amato Maryland kept up the pressure and again Channy tested Zonino but the Michigan goalie was up to the task. After a GB pick-up from Goran Murray with under 2 minutes, Maryland attacked quickly and Jay Carlson put the Terps up 2-1. After a face-off win from Michigan, Michael Ehrhardt forced a TO which was picked up by Brian Cooper and the Terps went back on offense. Maryland would earn a 1:00 EMO with 13 seconds left and took their 2-1 lead into the 2nd Quarter.

The Terps would waste that Man-Up opportunity quickly though after Chanenchuk's 2nd TO of the game. Maryland took their own 1:00 penalty, a illegal body check by Matt Dunn but killed it off. Maryland added their 3rd 2:21 into the 2Q through Connor Cannizzaro. After a sustained attack by Michigan that included 4 shots, Maryland called time-out with 7:17 left in the quarter to take a breather. The Wolverines would keep up the pressure until Maryland re-took possession with 6:22 left in the half after a GB pick-up from Ehrhardt. That would pay-off was Mike Chanenchuk got his first of the day at 11:04 to put the Terps up 3. The lead would go to 4 as Carlson got his second of the afternoon and Maryland was up 5-1 with under 3 to go in the first half. After an extended possession, one of the first for Michigan since the 1Q they took advantage through Ian King to make it 5-2 with :46 seconds to go. After Garino won the FO, one of the few for the Terps in the half, Maryland called timeout with :36 seconds left. Maryland would take advantage as Carlson got his hat-trick to make it 6-2 with 4 seconds left and that was the lead for Maryland as we went to the half.

It was a lower scoring half than I expected with Michigan holding a very slight advantage in GB's and an advantage at the face-off X. Jon Garino was the man out there for Maryland in place of Charlie Raffa and struggled but improved as the half wore on. Jay Carlson was the top offensive performer for Maryland with 3 G's and Henry West had a G and an A. Michael Ehrhardt was fantastic on the back end with 3 CT.

There were both good and bad signs from Maryland's lackluster half at the X. It was good to see Maryland doing well and holding a 4 goal lead in absence of Raffa, but he'll definitely be needed for the North Carolina game this Saturday.

Michigan controlled the opening FO to start the half but the Terps forced a turnover on Ian King. Maryland would cash in on their next possession with Cannizzaro's 2nd to make it 7-2. Michigan would quickly answer though, with Mikie Schlosser getting the goal. Jon Garino would win the FO and after West picked up a GB off an errant shot from Rambo, Chanenchuk registered #21 on the year and made it 8-3. Garino would win another FO off a violation but Maryland wasted the possession after a TO by Bradlee Lord. Michigan took advantage and cut it to 4, once again through Mikie Schlosser. Garino's improvement at the X in the 2nd Half was a big benefit to Maryland and the Terps cashed in on the extra possessions. Carlson got his 4th to bring the lead back up to 5. Maryland also improved on their GB success winning the first 3 of the half. Both of these factors contributed to Maryland extending the lead in the 2nd Half. Rambo quickly added his first and Maryland's 10th to make it 10-4. The Terps were in full control the rest of the period, creating a sizable shot disparity but not being able to increase their lead, with Robbie Zonino still playing a solid game in net for the Wolverines. The lead would remain 10-4 heading to the 4th.

Michigan started the 4th Quarter with a few shots but weren't able to test Amato. Maryland would then take possession before Michigan called timeout with 12:21 left. The Terps would get their 11th soon after through Matt Rambo. Maryland added another under a minute later with another tally from Rambo that sealed his hat-trick. Unlike their 4th Quarter's against Stony Brook and Villanova the Terps were all over their opponent in the 4th and Maryland's 13th was scored by Rambo making it Matt Rambo 3-0 Michigan in the 4Q. Ian King added a tally for the Wolverines to make it 13-5. Maryland would rotate some of the back-ups and lots of different guys got game time as time wound down. The score would remain the same and Maryland walked out 13-5 winners.

Maryland put in a very good all-around performance for 60 minutes. That's something we had been complaining about a bit the last two weeks with 4th Quarter stumbles vs Stony Brook and Villanova. No such thing today. The Terps won the 4Q and played a very good 2nd half. They improved the two areas they were behind Michigan in in the first half, Face-Offs and GB play as well. Michigan is a team with some talented offensive players and Robbie Zonino played a very good game today. So while a comfortable win was expected, 13 goals and only allowing 5 is good. A good performance at the X from Jon Garino in the 2nd half was good to see as well with Charlie Raffa out.

Maryland is halfway through their schedule and has run the table so far. 7-0 is a very nice mark. But there's still work to do and the next two games vs North Carolina and Virginia will be a checkpoint for this Maryland team to see what the expectations should be down the stretch and how far this team can get in May.