Throughout the preseason, Maryland head head men's lacrosse coach John Tillman has talked about the closeness of the competition for the starting goalkeeper's spot between junior Kyle Bernlohr and redshirt freshman Dan Morris. This stood in some contrast to the earlier preseason poll that tabbed Bernlohr as one of the Terrapins' three players to watch for the season.
Bernlohr apparently maintained enough of an edge to earn the starting spot "between the pipes" when the Terps took the field for Saturday's season opener at Navy. And the Akron, Ohio native's performance demonstrated that he merited his coach's trust as he lived up to his preseason billing.
In their first game against VMI, the Midshipmen exploded for 21 goals against the over matched Keydets. By the time the final whistle blew in the contest with Maryland, Navy had added only one more goal to their season total. Bernlohr was solid throughout the game picking up 12 saves and, with a stalwart Terrapins defense, held the Mids scoreless until midway through the third quarter.
Facing the unenviable task of replacing All-American Niko Amato, Bernlohr has waited patiently for his turn in the spotlight and responded with a possible star making performance. He picked up half his saves in the first three quarters and doubled that total with six saves in the fourth quarter as Navy tried desperately to mount a comeback.
Bernlohr and the Terps return to action Saturday, February, 21 when they travel to New Haven to face Yale before returning to College Park to open their home season on the 24th when they host another Ivy League opponent, the Penn Quakers.