Virginia maryland lacrosse. Virginia vs Maryland Lacrosse: Terrapins Edge Cavaliers in Overtime Thriller

How did Maryland men’s lacrosse defeat top-ranked Virginia. What were the key takeaways from this intense matchup. Why did the Cavaliers struggle to maintain their lead. How can Virginia improve for future high-stakes games.

Table of Contents

The Battle of Lacrosse Titans: Maryland Triumphs Over Virginia

In a heart-stopping overtime clash, the fourth-ranked Maryland Terrapins men’s lacrosse team emerged victorious against the top-ranked Virginia Cavaliers with a final score of 14-13. This intense matchup, held at Klockner Stadium, showcased the highest level of collegiate lacrosse and left fans on the edge of their seats until the very end.

The game was characterized by dramatic shifts in momentum, with both teams displaying their prowess and resilience throughout. Maryland’s Daniel Kelly sealed the win with a decisive step-down shot in overtime, handing Virginia their first loss of the season.

Key Moments: A Rollercoaster of Lacrosse Action

The game’s narrative was filled with twists and turns, keeping spectators engaged from start to finish. Here’s a breakdown of the crucial moments:

Maryland jumped to an early 3-0 lead in the first quarter
Virginia rallied back, taking a 6-3 lead
The Terrapins dominated the third quarter, outscoring UVA 6-3
Maryland extended their lead to 12-9 early in the fourth quarter
Virginia scored three goals in the last 3:41, including two within 38 seconds, to force overtime
Daniel Kelly’s overtime goal clinched the win for Maryland

Virginia’s Resilience: A Testament to Their Championship Caliber

Despite the loss, Virginia’s performance demonstrated why they’re considered one of the top teams in the nation. Their ability to overcome a three-goal deficit in the closing minutes of regulation time was reminiscent of their 2019 championship-winning team, showcasing their mental toughness and offensive firepower.

What does this loss mean for Virginia’s season outlook?

While disappointing, this single defeat doesn’t define Virginia’s season. The close nature of the game against another top-ranked opponent suggests that the Cavaliers remain a formidable force in college lacrosse. With upcoming matches against current #2 Notre Dame and #3 Duke, Virginia has ample opportunity to bounce back and solidify their position as national title contenders.

The Double-Edged Sword: Virginia’s Aggressive Play Style

One of Virginia’s defining characteristics is their aggressive, fast-paced style of play. While this approach often leads to dominant performances and quick scoring runs, it proved to be a mixed blessing against Maryland’s disciplined defense.

How did Virginia’s aggression impact the game?

The Cavaliers’ high-risk, high-reward strategy resulted in:

16 total turnovers, including 5 early in the game
Ill-advised shots early in possessions, especially in the third quarter
Extended defensive stands, tiring out Virginia’s defense
Fewer opportunities for Virginia’s potent offense to find its rhythm

While this aggressive style is a hallmark of Virginia lacrosse, finding the right balance against top-tier opponents like Maryland may be crucial for future success.

Shooting Woes: A Key Factor in Virginia’s Defeat

One of the most significant factors in Virginia’s loss was their uncharacteristically poor shooting performance. The Cavaliers, known for their sharpshooting, struggled to find the back of the net consistently against Maryland’s freshman goalie, Brian Ruppel.

What were the shooting statistics for Virginia?

Team shooting percentage: 28.3% (13 goals on 46 shots)
Connor Shellenberger and Xander Dickson: 1-7 each
Thomas McConvey: 4-8
Payton Cormier: 3-6

While credit must be given to Ruppel’s impressive 13-save performance (51.9% save percentage), Virginia’s shooters will likely view this as a game where they left too many opportunities on the field.

Maryland’s Defensive Prowess: Disrupting Virginia’s Offensive Flow

The Terrapins’ defensive strategy played a crucial role in their victory, effectively disrupting Virginia’s typically fluid offensive patterns. Maryland’s ability to force turnovers and limit quality shooting opportunities was a key factor in keeping the game close and ultimately securing the win.

How did Maryland’s defense impact Virginia’s offensive production?

Maryland’s defensive approach led to:

Increased pressure on Virginia’s ball handlers, resulting in turnovers
Limiting time and space for Virginia’s shooters
Forcing Virginia into lower percentage shots
Disrupting the Cavaliers’ offensive rhythm and transition game

By keeping Virginia’s offense off-balance, Maryland was able to weather the Cavaliers’ late-game surge and position themselves for the overtime victory.

Lessons Learned: Virginia’s Path Forward

While this loss is undoubtedly disappointing for Virginia, it provides valuable insights and learning opportunities for the team as they progress through their challenging schedule.

What areas can Virginia focus on improving?

Based on the game against Maryland, Virginia can concentrate on:

Shot selection and efficiency
Ball security and reducing turnovers
Balancing aggression with strategic patience
Maintaining defensive intensity throughout long possessions
Capitalizing on man-up opportunities

By addressing these areas, Virginia can further refine their already formidable game and be better prepared for future high-stakes matchups.

The Road Ahead: Virginia’s Upcoming Challenges

With the loss to Maryland behind them, Virginia now faces a grueling stretch of their schedule, including matchups against other top-ranked opponents. These games will be crucial in determining Virginia’s standing in the national rankings and their seeding for the NCAA tournament.

What key games lie ahead for Virginia?

The Cavaliers’ upcoming schedule features:

A clash with #2 Notre Dame
A showdown against #3 Duke
Several competitive ACC conference games

These matchups present both challenges and opportunities for Virginia to prove their mettle against the nation’s best and potentially avenge their loss to Maryland.

The Bigger Picture: Implications for the NCAA Lacrosse Landscape

While this game was just one of many in the college lacrosse season, its impact extends beyond just Virginia and Maryland. The result has significant implications for the national rankings and the perception of power dynamics in the sport.

How does this result affect the national lacrosse landscape?

The repercussions of this game include:

Potential reshuffling of the top rankings
Increased scrutiny on Virginia’s upcoming games
Elevated status for Maryland in the national conversation
Heightened anticipation for potential rematches in the NCAA tournament

As the season progresses, this game will likely be referenced as a pivotal moment in shaping the narrative of the 2024 college lacrosse season.

Individual Performances: Standout Players from Both Teams

Despite the focus on team dynamics, several individual players made significant contributions that warrant recognition. Their performances not only impacted the outcome of this game but also solidified their status as key players to watch for the remainder of the season.

Who were the standout performers in this matchup?

Notable individual performances included:

Daniel Kelly (Maryland): Scored the game-winning goal in overtime
Brian Ruppel (Maryland): 13 saves, 51.9% save percentage
Thomas McConvey (Virginia): 4 goals on 8 shots
Payton Cormier (Virginia): 3 goals on 6 shots
Matt Nunes (Virginia): Several crucial saves to keep the game close

These players’ contributions underscore the high level of talent on display in this top-tier collegiate lacrosse matchup.

The Impact of Home Field Advantage: Klockner Stadium’s Electric Atmosphere

The game at Klockner Stadium featured the largest crowd since 2013, creating an electric atmosphere that added to the intensity of the matchup. While home field advantage typically plays a significant role in college sports, Maryland’s ability to overcome this factor makes their victory even more impressive.

How did the crowd at Klockner Stadium influence the game?

The packed stadium contributed to the game’s atmosphere by:

Providing energy and support for the Virginia team
Creating a challenging environment for Maryland players
Amplifying the intensity of key moments throughout the game
Potentially influencing officiating decisions

Despite the home field advantage, Maryland’s composure in this hostile environment speaks volumes about their mental toughness and preparation.

Tactical Analysis: The Chess Match Between Coaching Staffs

Behind the on-field action, a tactical battle unfolded between Virginia’s head coach Lars Tiffany and Maryland’s coaching staff. The adjustments and strategies employed by both sides played a crucial role in the game’s ebb and flow.

What key tactical decisions influenced the game’s outcome?

Notable coaching decisions included:

Maryland’s defensive adjustments to limit Virginia’s transition opportunities
Virginia’s attempt to slow down the pace in the third quarter
Both teams’ man-up and man-down strategies
Substitution patterns and player rotations to manage fatigue

The ability of both coaching staffs to adapt their game plans in real-time contributed to the back-and-forth nature of this thrilling contest.

Looking Ahead: Potential NCAA Tournament Implications

While it’s still early in the season, this game could have significant implications for NCAA tournament seeding and matchups. Both Virginia and Maryland have established themselves as strong contenders for high seeds in the tournament, and this head-to-head result could play a crucial role in determining their postseason paths.

How might this game impact NCAA tournament seeding?

Potential tournament implications include:

Influencing the committee’s ranking of both teams
Affecting the likelihood of a rematch in the tournament
Shaping the perception of conference strength (ACC vs. Big Ten)
Providing a quality win/loss for strength of schedule considerations

As the season progresses, both teams will likely keep this game in mind as they build their resumes for tournament selection and seeding.

The Role of Special Teams: Man-Up and Man-Down Situations

In close games between evenly matched opponents, special teams play often becomes a deciding factor. The efficiency of man-up offenses and the resilience of man-down defenses can swing momentum and ultimately determine the outcome of tight contests.

How did special teams performance impact the game?

Key aspects of special teams play included:

Conversion rates on man-up opportunities for both teams
Effectiveness of man-down defensive strategies
Momentum shifts resulting from special teams successes or failures
Coaching decisions regarding personnel and tactics in these situations

Analyzing the performance of both teams in man-up and man-down scenarios provides insight into areas for improvement and potential strategic adjustments for future games.

The Mental Game: Resilience and Composure Under Pressure

In a high-stakes matchup between two top-ranked teams, mental toughness and composure under pressure become critical factors. Both Virginia and Maryland demonstrated remarkable resilience throughout the game, responding to adversity and maintaining focus in crucial moments.

How did mental factors influence the game’s outcome?

Key mental aspects of the game included:

Virginia’s ability to erase a three-goal deficit late in regulation
Maryland’s composure in a hostile road environment
Both teams’ performance in the high-pressure overtime period
Individual players’ responses to personal successes and failures

The mental fortitude displayed by both teams underscores the importance of psychological preparation and resilience in elite-level college lacrosse.

Faceoff Battle: The Importance of Possession

In a sport where possession is crucial, the faceoff battle often plays a significant role in determining the flow and outcome of games. The performance of faceoff specialists can provide a team with additional possessions and scoring opportunities, potentially swinging the momentum in their favor.

How did the faceoff battle impact the game?

Key aspects of the faceoff competition included:

Overall faceoff win percentages for both teams
Performance of key faceoff specialists, including Virginia’s Petey LaSalla
Adjustments made by both teams throughout the game
Impact of faceoff wins on scoring runs and momentum shifts

Analyzing the faceoff battle provides insight into each team’s ability to control possession and dictate the pace of the game.

The Role of Depth: Contributions from the Bench

In a closely contested game that extends into overtime, the depth of a team’s roster can become a decisive factor. The ability of coaches to rely on bench players to provide quality minutes and make impactful contributions can be the difference between victory and defeat.

How did bench contributions affect the game’s outcome?

Key aspects of depth and bench play included:

Performance of substitutes in key moments
Ability of bench players to maintain the team’s level of play
Impact of fresh legs in the late stages of regulation and overtime
Coaching decisions regarding playing time and rotations

Evaluating the contributions of non-starters provides insight into each team’s overall roster strength and adaptability in high-pressure situations.

As the college lacrosse season continues, both Virginia and Maryland will look to build on the lessons learned from this thrilling overtime clash. For Virginia, the focus will be on bouncing back and addressing the areas for improvement highlighted in this game. Maryland, meanwhile, will seek to use this signature win as a springboard for continued success. Lacrosse fans across the nation will undoubtedly be eagerly anticipating a potential rematch between these two powerhouses in the NCAA tournament.

Five takeaways from UVA lacrosse’s overtime loss to #4 Maryland

In an overtime thriller, the top-ranked Virginia Cavaliers men’s lacrosse team took its first loss of the season, falling to the Maryland Terrapins 14-13. In a game of runs, the ‘Hoos were down 3-0 early in the first quarter before storming back to take a 6-3 lead. Maryland responded in turn, notching a goal before the end of the half and then outscoring UVA 6-3 in the third stanza to take a 10-9 lead into the fourth quarter.

Two more Terp scores to start the final quarter left Lars Tiffany’s team with a three-goal deficit. But, reminiscent of the 2019 Virginia team, the Wahoos scored three goals in the last 3:41 of play including two in the span of 38 seconds within the last two minutes to send the game to overtime. Despite a number of really good shots in transition and a few massive stops from the defense, Maryland eventually wore UVA down with Daniel Kelly’s step-down shot getting past Matt Nunes to seize victory.

With the loss, we have five takeaways for the Cavaliers moving forward.

While tough, this loss doesn’t define this team

At the end of the day, Virginia losing this game absolutely stings. After last season’s pair of blowout losses, with the biggest crowd at Klockner Stadium since 2013, and as the ‘Hoos seemed like the better team coming in and for much of the game, falling in such dramatic fashion is tough.

But, while there is noticeable room for improvement and areas where UVA struggled, this result doesn’t have massive implications for the overall assessment of this team. Contrary to the midseason loss to the Terps last spring, this was a result that points to Virginia as a potentially elite team that needs to be better in a few areas to beat the best in the country. Games against current #2 Notre Dame and #3 Duke over the next two weekends provide a great opportunity to bounce back and pick up quality resume wins.

Virginia doesn’t quite toe the line between necessary aggression and over-aggression

One of the most fun parts of watching this program is to see how well Virginia can dominate games in the middle of the field and convert in transition, jumping out to big leads and knocking opponents out by stringing together goals in quick succession. Unfortunately, against the quality of opponent and style of Maryland, some of that aggression got turned on its head.

Five early turnovers and 16 total were evidence of the offense perhaps trying to make a few too many tough passes. More prominently, ill-advised shots early in possessions, especially in the third quarter, often left UVA’s defense on the field for far too long and allowed Maryland to have enough settled, long offensive possessions to find the back of the net and consequently prevent Virginia’s high-powered attack from finding a rhythm.

Even after Lars Tiffany emphasized slowing the game down and looking to have more settled play on offense five minutes into the third quarter, there were still a few too many forces. A no-no-no-no-YES! Evan Zinn goal in transition shortly thereafter did prove why running can be so valuable. Yet a poor Petey LaSalla shot and a couple ones that were taken too quickly on the next two possessions meant Maryland pulled ahead 9-8 with 5:19 left in the third.

Additionally, Zinn’s 15-yard step down shot in overtime was maybe not the best decisions considering the ‘Hoos had a four on three with Connor Shellenberger open and either in-line for a time and room shot from far closer or able to hit two of the nation’s best finishers in Xander Dickson and Payton Cormier down low.

Of course, it’s easy to nit-pick little things about a loss and, had Thomas McConvey or Zinn finished the two looks that came after that play, this might not even be a talking point. But there is also a reality that UVA probably needs to be a bit more disciplined against teams as good and well-coached as Maryland. This is nothing drastic and isn’t meant to be overly critical, but being a bit more reserved will probably yield some better results for Virginia against the top tier of college lacrosse this spring.

UVA’s shooters didn’t hit the net enough

It’s perhaps quite obvious given the one-goal loss, but the Cavaliers’ shooters simply didn’t hit the back of the net enough against Maryland. Freshman goalie Brian Ruppel made 13 saves (51.9%) while two of Virginia’s most dangerous offensive threats Connor Shellenberger and Xander Dickson each shot just 1-7 on the day. Some of those were just Ruppel making really good saves, others weren’t the best quality of shots.

Beyond just those two, UVA as a team had its worst shooting performance of the season, canning 13 of their 46 shots (28.3%). Again, Ruppel was truly special in this game. But McConvey (4-8) and fellow Canadian Payton Cormier — who played heroically, scoring three goals on five shots in this game despite being on crutches last week — were the only Wahoos to shoot at or better than 50%. Particularly early in the game, the shot selection left something to be desired by settling for a number of low angle looks.

Again, UVA still only lost this game in overtime. Each player above made critical, big plays throughout the game and all ought to hold their heads high. Yet there does remain some room to get better and to emphasize taking better shots against good goalies, such as Notre Dame’s Liam Entenmann next week.

Petey LaSalla neutralizes Luke Wierman

On the undoubtedly positive side of things, Petey LaSalla was incredibly good at the faceoff dot against Luke Wierman. After Wierman absolutely dominated him in the two games in 2022, LaSalla went toe to toe with the best faceoff man in the country over the past two seasons, finishing 15-30 with just as many wins as his Terrapin opponent. Even if he didn’t score in the game (which feels weird to write about a faceoff guy, but that’s just how good he is offensively), LaSalla was so effective for all four quarters and forced Maryland into an even-possession game, something they haven’t truly had to play in years.

While LaSalla is in the second tier amongst D-1 FOGOs in true winning percentage, he made his presence felt in this game and reiterated just how good he is at the faceoff dot, even separate from what he brings to the Virginia offense.

Thomas McConvey clutches up on offense

Despite some struggles from a few of his teammates, Thomas McConvey played a lights out game of lacrosse with four goals and an assist. With a diving goal at the end of the third quarter to pull the ‘Hoos back within one, he also scored the game-tying goal with 78 seconds left to send the game to overtime. Had he sunk his shot in overtime to win the game, this would’ve been a legendary performance from the fifth year transfer.

Still, though, the way McConvey was able to win his individual matchup consistently in this game is a sign of how this year’s offense is a step ahead of last season’s. The plethora of players who warrant being guarded by a pole means that somebody will always be able to dodge the short stick or attack the weakest pole. McConvey is a major part of that and his success against Maryland points to both how good he is individually and how complete this Virginia offense is.

Virginia Tech Athletics Lacrosse History vs University of Maryland

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Lacrosse History vs University of Maryland from Apr 26, 2003 -
Apr 24, 2014

Last Matchup

Apr. 24,2014

Full Box Score

Losses

Streak

L13

Longest Win Streak

0 Games

N/A

Longest Losing Streak

13
Games

4/26/2003 – 4/24/2014

Home Record

0-5

Away Record

0-8

Conference Record

0-10

First Matchup

L 1-18

4/26/2003

Last 10 Matchups