Maryland-Robert Morris Lacrosse: Terps trounce Robert Morris 19-6.

After a big ACC win over Virginia, with a fabulous 2nd half played, Maryland needed to get ready quickly for a midweek tilt with the Robert Morris Colonials. With it being their last game for 10 days, before a showdown with Johns Hopkins, it was imperative for the Terps to go into this mini-break with a good game under their belts. They did just that, rolling Robert Morris 19-6.

Line-Ups

Attack: Rambo, Cannizzaro, Rotanz

Midfield: Chanenchuk, LoCascio, West

Defense: Ikeda, Dunn, Pons

Goalie: Amato

Uniforms

White Jerseys/Red Shorts.

1st Quarter

Maryland won the opening FO, Jon Garino was at the X, but after a turnovers from Michael Ehrhardt, the Colonials had the opening possession to start. They would get 3 shots off, with only one of them getting on cage, and Amato made the save. After a successful clear, the Terps turned it over again and after a push on Henry West, Robert Morris had the game's first EMO. Luke Laszkiewicz hit the post for RMU, and Brian Cooper picked up the GB. Maryland cleared successfully, and after a quick counter, Joe LoCascio got the opening goal to put UMD up 1-0.

A cross check was called on RMU, giving Maryland the chance to play a Man-Up providing they win the FO, which Garino did. Maryland would then call TO to set up the EMO offense. Maryland cashed in, and it was LoCascio again to make it 2-0. Maryland's first half turnover struggles appeared to continue from the UVA game, as Matt Rambo had one to give the ball to RMU with about 8:00 minutes left in the 1Q. After an extended offensive possession, the Colonials got on the board first through Jacob Ruest. Maryland would answer in under a minute later though, through Matt Rambo to restore the 2 goal lead. Jon Garino was looking very sharp at the face-off X, going 5-5, which helped quiet a very good RMU offense.

Rambo was on the board again, wide open as well, exactly a minute after his first, with the assist from Colin Heacock to put the Terps up 4-1 and drawing a Robert Morris TO. Maryland's erratic shooting had been in an issue in some of the games vs Stony Brook, Villanova, and UNC, but it was no issue early as the Terrapins had 4 goals on 4 shots. RMU won it's first FO of the game coming out of the TO but Michael Ehrardt forced a TO to give Maryland possession. Mike Chanenchuk's first shot forced a save out of Brian Bohn in the Colonials' cage but after some good GB play, Chanenchuk got on the scoresheet with under 4 minutes left to make it 5-1.

RMU cut the lead to 3 through Jonpatrick Kealey after a good dodge from behind the net with just under 3 minutes left in the half. Both teams got shots off before the period ended, but no dice. Maryland was up 5-2 after 1.

2nd Quarter

RMU won the opening FO of the second and James Rahe forced a save from Niko Amato. Matt Dunn was called for pushing, the second UMD player of the night to do so, and the Colonials had their 2nd Man-Up chance. They would cash in through Taylor Graves and the Maryland lead was down to 2. Henry West got his first shot of the afternoon at 1:26 of the 2Q and forced a save from Bohn. RMU cleared and countered very quickly, with Amato saving from Rankel. Casey Ikeda would force a TO on Rankel and it lead to Maryland's next goal, through the aforementioned West, to increase the lead to 3. The next goal came with 10:34 left, from Jay Carlson, who, coming off the bench for the 2nd game in a row, surely was looking to make an impact.

Laszkiewicz again forced a save out of Amato, but Niko was very sharp all night long and was up to the task. After a Rambo snipe was saved by Bohn with 9:27 left, RMU had an extended possession of nearly two minutes, but weren't able to get anything on cage. RMU would get a shot on cage with 6:54 left through Rahe but it was saved by Amato. Maryland's lead reached 5 with just over 5 minutes left, with Chanenchuk getting his 2nd of the night. Garino's dominance at the X continued, and LoCascio nearly got his hat-trick, if not for a good stop by Bohn. RMU would successfully clear, before turning it over nearly immediately after and Carlson got his 2nd with 3:37 left from Rotanz to make it 9-3.

Carlson was the first Maryland player to notch a hat-trick, capitalizing on a failed clear by RMU and getting the Terps in double digits before the half was over. After another FO win by Garino, LSM Michael Ehrardt got on the board for only his 2nd of the season to put UMD up 8. Garino won his 13th FO of the game and took it down himself to give Maryland a dozen, and 3 in 26 seconds. The score would hold the rest of the way.

The keys for Maryland at the half were definitely Garino's dominant play at the X and the absolute sharp-shooting. 12 goals on 21 shots is terrific and they came from multiple different guys and in different ways. It was an offensive show in the first half from Maryland.

3rd Quarter

With the game well out of hand, Kyle Bernlohr came in at Goalie for Maryland.

Maryland came back right where they left off, testing new RMU Goalie Matt Bukovac, but it was RMU on the board first in the 3Q through Taylor Graves. The Terps appeared a bit rattled to start the 2nd Half, with a few TO's and shots by the Colonials. Maryland improved out of the TO and Rustin Bryant got his first of the night to restore the 9 goal lead.

The rest of the period would be fast paced, with both teams getting multiple shots off, but Robert Morris holding the advantage. Bernlohr made a few quality saves and Maryland's lead remained at 9 with 2 and a half minutes left.

After a penalty was called on RMU, Maryland wasn't able to take advantage but still held possession and Carlson fed Rambo for the Freshman to get his hat-trick and put the Terps up double digits. After playing helper, Carlson was the scorer with :21 seconds left, notching his 4th goal and 5th point. Maryland would take the 15-4 lead to the 4Q.

4th Quarter

Andrew Walsh started the 4Q at the X for the Terps, and won it. UMD wasn't done scoring, with Kevin Forster getting his 3rd of the year less than a minute into the 4th. After a flurry of shots, Rankel got RMU's first goal in over 16 minutes at the 10:54 mark of the 4th.

Maryland would increase it's lead the rest of the way with goals from Ben Chisolm, getting his 2nd career goal and Quinn Haley and Zack Wholley getting their first each, with Wholley's particularly being a nasty finish. The final score ended up: Maryland 19-6 Robert Morris

Final Thoughts

Robert Morris had a dangerous offense and this looked as perhaps a bit more than a simple chance for Maryland to get a dominant victory. Well, Maryland did exactly that. The Terps showed up, did their job, and absolutely dismantled RMU. A 13 goal win is certainly a good way to enter this mini-break the Terps had.

The previous two games had been tough ACC tilts and Maryland did well enough, going 1-1 and remaining atop the ACC. This was a break in the grueling finish, with Johns Hopkins-Notre Dame-and the ACC Tournament in quick successions starting April 12th. Us fans, and I'm sure the team can smell postseason play upon us. It's up to the Terps to keep this momentum going through April, and into May.