Yeatman's Three Goals Spark Terps Comeback
by Joel Censer | Special to Lacrosse Magazine Online | Live Blog
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Maryland junior attackman Ryan Young gets a step on Georgetown's Barney Ehrmann during the Terps' 15-13 victory Saturday. Young had a goal and five assists. © John Strohsacker/LaxPhotos.com |
WASHINGTON, D.C. - During the first half of No.
6-ranked Maryland’s 15-13 victory over No. 12-ranked
Georgetown on Saturday, the Terps were outplayed between the lines,
weren’t particularly sharp clearing the ball, had problems
generating six-on-six offense and were getting worked by the
Hoya offense.
But after a few half-time adjustments -- Maryland coach Dave
Cottle spoke about how longtime defensive coordinator Dave
Slafkosky instructed the team to slide from the adjacents
instead of from the Hoyas’ dangerous crease finishers -- the
Terps erased a 10-7 halftime deficit with an explosive seven-goal
run that spanned most of the third and part of the fourth
quarter.
Offensively for Maryland, attackman Ryan Young (1g, 5a) was a
rock, quarterbacking the offense from behind the net and
consistently finding open teammates on the backside. But the second
half fireworks belonged primarily to linemate Will Yeatman.
A San Diego native and 6’6", 250-pound behemoth who plans to
play tight end for the football team next fall, Yeatman struggled
at times last year after transferring from Notre Dame. But with
Georgetown’s Big East defensive preseason player of the year
Barney Ehrmann thwarting Maryland’s Grant Catalino, Yeatman
answered the call with three goals.
After hockey assisting a Catalino inside finish to bring the Terps
within two, Yeatman then scored three of the next four Terp goals,
propelling Maryland to a 13-11 fourth quarter advantage.
Yeatman’s increased productivity can be attributed to
greater comfort with the offense. “Last year, we had him for
two weeks,” Cottle said of Yeatman, who transferred in late
December 2008. “This year he had the whole fall.”
Redshirt junior longstick midfielder Brian Farrell (1a), who
missed almost the entire 2009 season with a serious rib injury, was
also a huge boon for the Terps, corralling tough ground balls in
the middle of the field and consistently pushing transition.
For Georgetown coach Dave Urick, whose Hoyas have missed the
playoffs for the past two seasons, many of the second-half woes
could be attributed to fatigue. While the Terrapins used five
attackmen, six longpoles, two faceoff men and a variety of
midfields, Georgetown seemed to rely almost entirely on its first
string.
“Physically we were wearing down. Nixon, Ehrman, Bicknese
and Hostetler (Georgetown’s starting defenders) -- they
played the whole game,” Urick said.
Plus, there was the goaltending issue. Sophomore C.T. Fisher,
getting the nod over last year’s starter senior Jack Davis
(who according to Urick is dealing with some “physical
issues”), only saved nine shots (39 percent).
Still, the Hoyas had a lot to be pleased about. Senior captain
Scott Kocis (2g, 1a), a 6’4", 215-pound specimen at midfield,
showed the ability to carry the offense on his back, while
Georgetown attackmen Craig Dowd (1g, 3a), Ryan Shuler (3g, 2a) and
Nick Mirabito (2g) highlighted their capabilities as both feeders
and scorers.
Canadian freshman sensation Travis Comeau (2g, 1a) also came off
the bench to provide the Hoyas a spark. The Alberta native’s
natural scoring prowess, combined with his ability to finish in
tight spaces, and take care of some garbage goals, is something the
Hoyas’ offense has traditionally lacked.
Ehrmann, who played well despite an injured ankle, thought the
game came down to poise. “We just need to keep our composure
a little better,” he said.
News & Notes
An announced crowd of 2,532 attended the game at Multi-Sport Field... Farrell led the defensive effort for the Terps and finished the game with 10 groundballs, which is the first time since Will Dalton had 11 groundballs against UMBC in 2008 that a Terp has had 10 or more groundballs in a game. Holmes finished with seven groundballs, while Jake Bernhardt had five... Maryland returns to action on Saturday, March 6 when it heads to Baltimore to face the No. 9 Duke Blue Devils in the Konica Minolta Face Off Classic. The Terps and the Blue Devils will open the triple-header with an 11 a.m. start... Maryland is now 8-2 all-time vs. Georgetown and is 4-0 all-time at the Hoyas' Multi-Sport Field... Senior Will Yeatman had three goals to give him his first hat trick as a Terp and just the third for his career. He also now has 23 multi-point and 12 multi-goal games for his career... Junior Ryan Young set career highs with six points and five assists and now has 24 multi-point and 11 multi-assist games for his career... With a goal and two assists, junior Grant Catalino now has 27 multi-point and nine multi-assist games for his career... Jake Bernhardt tied career highs he set just last week at Bellarmine with three points and two goals... Freshmen Jesse Bernhardt and John Haus each scored their first career goals in the win over Georgetown, with Haus' being the game-winning goal.
