Virginia maryland lacrosse. Virginia vs Maryland Lacrosse: Epic Overtime Battle and Key Takeaways

How did the No. 4 Maryland men’s lacrosse team defeat No. 1 Virginia in overtime. What were the crucial moments and strategies that led to this thrilling 14-13 victory. What lessons can be drawn from this high-stakes matchup between two lacrosse powerhouses.

The Dramatic Overtime Showdown: Maryland Edges Out Virginia

In a heart-stopping clash between two collegiate lacrosse titans, the No. 4 Maryland Terrapins emerged victorious over the top-ranked Virginia Cavaliers with a final score of 14-13 in overtime. This intense battle, which took place at Klöckner Stadium, showcased the resilience and skill of both teams, keeping fans on the edge of their seats until the very last moment.

The game was marked by dramatic shifts in momentum, with each team mounting impressive comebacks throughout the contest. Maryland struck first, jumping out to an early 3-0 lead. However, Virginia responded with a remarkable six-goal run, demonstrating their offensive prowess and ability to quickly turn the tables.

As the match progressed, Maryland regained control, outscoring Virginia 6-3 in the third quarter to take a 10-9 lead into the final period. The Terrapins then extended their advantage to three goals, putting Virginia in a precarious position with time running out.

Virginia’s Late-Game Heroics

In a display of true grit and determination, Virginia mounted a thrilling comeback in the closing minutes of regulation. The Cavaliers scored three goals in the final 3:41 of play, including two within a span of just 38 seconds in the last two minutes. This remarkable surge tied the game and forced overtime, reminiscent of Virginia’s championship-winning team from 2019.

Maryland’s Overtime Triumph

Despite Virginia’s valiant effort to force extra time, it was Maryland who ultimately sealed the victory. In a tense overtime period, Daniel Kelly stepped up for the Terrapins, unleashing a powerful shot that found its way past Virginia goalkeeper Matt Nunes. This decisive goal not only secured the win for Maryland but also handed Virginia its first loss of the season.

Breaking Down the Game: Key Statistics and Performances

The statistics from this closely contested match reveal just how evenly matched these two lacrosse powerhouses were:

• Total shots: Virginia 46, Maryland 41
• Shots on goal: Virginia 26, Maryland 27
• Ground balls: Virginia 34, Maryland 35
• Faceoffs won: Virginia 15, Maryland 16
• Saves: Virginia (Matt Nunes) 13, Maryland (Brian Ruppel) 13

These numbers highlight the razor-thin margin that separated the two teams throughout the contest. Both goalkeepers, Matt Nunes for Virginia and Brian Ruppel for Maryland, put on impressive performances, each making 13 crucial saves to keep their teams in the game.

Standout Performers

While the entire game was a showcase of exceptional talent, several players stood out with their contributions:

• Daniel Kelly (Maryland): Scored the game-winning goal in overtime
• Thomas McConvey (Virginia): 4 goals on 8 shots, demonstrating excellent efficiency
• Payton Cormier (Virginia): Consistent offensive threat throughout the game
• Brian Ruppel (Maryland): Freshman goalkeeper who made 13 saves with a 51.9% save percentage

Lessons Learned: Virginia’s Areas for Improvement

While this loss was undoubtedly disappointing for Virginia, it provides valuable insights and areas for growth as the team moves forward in their season. Here are some key takeaways from the game:

Balancing Aggression and Discipline

Virginia’s aggressive style of play is a double-edged sword. How can the team maintain its high-energy approach while avoiding costly mistakes? The Cavaliers committed 16 turnovers in the game, with five coming early in the contest. This suggests a need for better ball security and decision-making, especially in crucial moments.

Additionally, Virginia’s shot selection at times left something to be desired. Taking ill-advised shots early in possessions put unnecessary pressure on their defense and allowed Maryland to control the tempo of the game. Finding the right balance between aggressive play and patience will be crucial for Virginia’s success against top-tier opponents.

Improving Shooting Efficiency

Virginia’s shooting performance was below par in this game, with the team converting only 28.3% of their shots (13 goals on 46 attempts). This marks their worst shooting percentage of the season. Key players like Connor Shellenberger and Xander Dickson, both usually reliable scorers, struggled with efficiency, each going 1-for-7 on the day.

While credit must be given to Maryland’s goalkeeper Brian Ruppel for his outstanding performance, Virginia will need to focus on shot placement and selection to improve their conversion rate in future high-stakes matchups.

The Bigger Picture: Implications for Virginia’s Season

Despite the sting of defeat, this loss does not define Virginia’s season. How can the team use this experience as a catalyst for growth? The close nature of the game against a top-ranked opponent suggests that Virginia remains a formidable force in college lacrosse.

The upcoming schedule presents immediate opportunities for redemption, with games against current #2 Notre Dame and #3 Duke in the next two weekends. These matchups will allow Virginia to showcase their resilience and potentially secure quality wins to bolster their resume.

Building on Strengths

Virginia’s ability to mount a comeback and force overtime demonstrates the team’s mental toughness and offensive firepower. These qualities will serve them well as they face other elite programs throughout the season. The challenge now is to harness these strengths consistently while addressing the areas that need improvement.

Maryland’s Victory: A Statement Win

For Maryland, this victory over the top-ranked team in the nation is a significant achievement. What does this win mean for the Terrapins’ season outlook? It solidifies their position as a legitimate national title contender and provides a massive boost of confidence as they navigate their challenging schedule.

Keys to Maryland’s Success

Several factors contributed to Maryland’s triumph:

1. Resilience: The ability to withstand Virginia’s comebacks and maintain composure in overtime
2. Defensive prowess: Limiting Virginia’s high-powered offense and forcing turnovers
3. Goaltending: Brian Ruppel’s outstanding performance in goal, especially as a freshman
4. Balanced scoring: Multiple players contributing to the offensive output
5. Clutch play: Daniel Kelly’s game-winning goal in overtime

These elements will be crucial for Maryland as they aim to build on this victory and make a deep run in the postseason.

The Impact of Home Field Advantage

The electric atmosphere at Klöckner Stadium played a significant role in the drama of this contest. How does home field advantage influence the outcome of high-stakes lacrosse games? With the largest crowd since 2013 in attendance, the energy was palpable and undoubtedly contributed to Virginia’s late-game comeback.

For Virginia, harnessing this home field advantage will be crucial in future matchups. The support of a passionate crowd can provide the extra motivation needed to overcome adversity and secure victories in closely contested games.

Maryland’s Road Warrior Mentality

Conversely, Maryland’s ability to secure a win in such a hostile environment speaks volumes about their mental toughness and preparation. This victory on the road against a top-ranked opponent will serve as a confidence booster for the Terrapins as they face other challenging away games throughout the season.

Looking Ahead: The Road to the NCAA Tournament

As both Virginia and Maryland set their sights on the NCAA Tournament, how will this early-season matchup influence their trajectories? For Virginia, the loss serves as a wake-up call and an opportunity to address weaknesses early in the season. The team’s response to this setback will be crucial in determining their postseason positioning and readiness for tournament play.

Maryland, buoyed by this significant victory, will look to maintain their momentum and continue climbing the rankings. However, they must guard against complacency, as other top programs will now be even more motivated to knock them off.

Potential Rematch in the NCAA Tournament

Given the caliber of both programs, there’s a strong possibility that Virginia and Maryland could meet again in the NCAA Tournament. How might the strategies and lessons learned from this overtime thriller influence a potential rematch? Both teams will undoubtedly study the film from this game closely, looking for adjustments and advantages they can exploit in future encounters.

For lacrosse fans, the prospect of these two powerhouses clashing again with even higher stakes is an exciting possibility that adds intrigue to the remainder of the season.

The Role of Coaching in High-Pressure Situations

The overtime period of this game highlighted the importance of coaching in lacrosse. How do coaches prepare their teams for these high-pressure moments? Both Lars Tiffany of Virginia and John Tillman of Maryland are experienced, successful coaches who have led their teams to national championships.

In overtime, every decision becomes magnified. The ability to call the right plays, make strategic substitutions, and keep players focused and composed is crucial. Maryland’s execution in overtime, culminating in Daniel Kelly’s game-winning goal, is a testament to their preparation and coaching.

Adjustments and In-Game Strategy

Throughout the game, both coaches made critical adjustments to counter their opponent’s strategies. Virginia’s Lars Tiffany, for instance, emphasized slowing down the game and looking for more settled offensive possessions in the third quarter. While this adjustment helped to some extent, finding the perfect balance between aggression and control remained a challenge.

For Maryland, their ability to weather Virginia’s runs and maintain composure, especially after falling behind early, speaks to the team’s mental preparation and the coaching staff’s ability to keep players focused on the game plan.

As the season progresses, the coaches’ ability to learn from this game and implement improvements will be crucial to their teams’ success. Both Tiffany and Tillman have proven track records of developing their squads throughout the season, setting them up for strong performances when it matters most in May.

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

9

at

14

Full Box Score

Losses

13

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

0-10

4/22/2007-4/24/2014

Largest Margin of Victory

N/A

N/A

Smallest Margin of Victory

N/A

N/A

Total Goals

95

Average Goals

7. 31

Win

Loss

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