Maryland men's lacrosse gains share of Big Ten title in 10-9 comeback win at Ohio State

The Maryland Terrapins men's lacrosse team traveled to Ohio State for the Showdown in the Shoe Saturday morning. The home-standing Buckeyes jumped out to a 4-0 first quarter lead and, after seeing the Terps chip away for three quarters, still managed to lead by four with under five minutes to play. Four Maryland goals in the last 4:22 and Jay Carlson's game winner with 49 seconds to play in the overtime left the Buckeyes and their faithful stunned as the Terps came away with a 10-9 overtime win.

First Quarter - Buckeyes rule the Shoe

The day started most inauspiciously for Maryland as the officials whistled John Garino for a faceoff violation on the opening faceoff and Jesse King scored just 12 seconds into the game. Garino won the subsequent draw, but OSU goalie Tom Carey picked up his first save on Jay Carlson's shot.

Ohio State capitalized on a second chance when Maryland failed to clear after a Buckeyes' missed shot. Less than five minutes in, the home team had a 2-0 lead. That extended to three after Carey picked up a second save, this time on Joe LoCascio, and the Buckeyes scored after picking up a 30-second shot clock warning.

With 5 minutes to play in the quarter, OSU's lead ballooned to four when Carter Brown used a jab step right to get inside Matt Neufeldt and the slide came too slowly.

The Terps finally got on the board with 2:56 to play when the Terps used excellent ball movement and Carlson took Colin Heacock's pass from behind the cage in space and scored from five yards out. The period ended with the home team ahead 4-1.

Second quarter - Inching back

The Terps got themselves back in contention with two early second quarter goals. Garino found his confidence at the 'X' and picked up the first faceoff of the quarter. Maryland continued moving the ball well and LoCascio found Carlson in space for a relatively easy score.

Matt Rambo pulled the Terps within one under a minute later. Circling from behind the cage, he created some space and launched a rocket to the far post, making the score 4-3 in favor of Ohio State.

After the goalies traded saves, Carey picked up his fourth and the Buckeyes slammed the breaks on Maryland's momentum with goals on back to back possessions. The first came from Ryan Hunter on an unassisted dodge. John Kelly followed his score 1:14 later and the Terps again found themselves facing a three-goal deficit.

After Kyle Bernlohr notched his fourth save of the day, the Terps were able to respond. The offense again looked sharp using quick ball movement to find a shooter in space. This time Carlson acted as the final facilitator finding Bryan Cole for Maryland's fourth goal. The half ended with the Terps down 6-4

Third quarter - Missed opportunities

Isaiah Davis-Allen picked up the ground ball on the opening faceoff and Carey registered his sixth save on a shot by Heacock. However, Adam DeMillo forced a turnover on the attempted clear and LoCascio pulled the Terps back within one on an unassisted score.

Once again, the Buckeyes had a response. After Chris May won the faceoff, Jesse King completed his hat trick blistering a shot past Bernlohr. Maryland's goalie picked up his seventh save and the Terrapins garnered the first extra-man opportunity (EMO) of the game. They failed to capitalize when Heacock turned it over. Ohio State didn't miss its opportunity and King assisted on Kelly's goal with 3:49 to play in the third, once again opening a three goal Buckeyes lead at 8-5 that they would take into the fourth quarter.

Fourth quarter - A late charge

Garino, who had been holding his own against May on faceoffs, was whistled for a violation to open the quarter. Bernlohor had his back and matched Carey by picking up his eighth save. LoCascio turned the ball over. The Buckeyes held the ball for an extended possession and scored for the second time after a shot clock warning with King getting goal number four on the day.

Forty minutes after falling behind by four, the Terps again trailed by four at 9-5. At this point, however, they had barely 10 minutes to make up the deficit. Maryland's situation became even more dire when May won the ensuing faceoff. The Buckeyes ran a significant amount of time off the clock before Bernlohr picked up a save after another shot clock warning.

With 4:22 to play Matt Rambo scored on a dodge very similar to the one he used to score the winning goal at Rutgers. Andrew Walsh went in for Garino and won the ensuing faceoff but Carey made an easy save on Henry West's high shot.

West came back and caused a turnover on OSU's attempted clear. He brought the Terps closer scoring on a low bouncer after taking a feed from LoCascio. Another shot clock warning led to a Buckeyes' turnover and a delay of game penalty gave Maryland a 30 second EMO. A twelve yard bullet by LoCascio on a cross field pass from Cole pulled the Terps within one at 9-8.

Garino won the faceoff with Andrew Walsh picking the ground ball from the wing. Coach John Tillman called timeout with 1:25 to play. WIth 1:09 to play West found Heacock who rifled a low shot home from a severe angle and for the first time sice the opening of the game, Maryland had pulled even.

Overtime - Looking out for a hero

After Ohio State won the faceoff, a stout defensive effort by the Terps on a dodge into the middle of the defense led to a Buckeyes turnover. West had a good look atthe goal but Carey came up with the save. The Ohio State goalie didn't control the ball and the Buckeyes would pay the ultimate price.

Tillman called a timeout but the game winner was not likely the result of the play Tillman drew up. Instead, it fell to Jay Carlson whose three fake effort before coming from behind the cage to blister a low shot past Carey sealed the astonishing comeback.

Maryland winning streak now stands at 12 and with a 4-0 record in conference, the Terps have assured themselves of a share of the Big Ten regular season championship.