May 17, 2008

Sidebar: Petit Has Seen it All

by Paul Ohanian, Lacrosse Magazine Online Staff

ANNAPOLIS, MD - Ben Rubeor made the most of his second chance.

After getting stripped by Maryland's short-stick defender Bryn Holmes on Virginia's first possession in overtime, Rubeor didn't let it happen a second time.

Facing the same scenario three minutes later on another isolation play, he worked around the left side, found a small opening, and let loose from seven yards away. Rubeor's goal with 31 seconds left in overtime lifted the Cavaliers to an 8-7 come-from-behind win and earned Virginia (14-3) a berth in next week's final four in Foxboro, Massachusetts against the winner of tomorrow's Syracuse-Notre Dame quarterfinal.

"It was the same play we ran before when I turned the ball over," said Rubeor, who netted both the game-tying and game-winning goals. "We liked the match-up. I came off the pick and they switched at first, but then the short-pole didn't stay on me. I had an open look and I put it on cage."

For most of the afternoon, it seemed hard to imagine that Rubeor and his team would even have a chance to be in overtime.

Maryland (10-6) controlled play throughout most of Saturday's NCAA quarterfinal match-up and dominated the stat sheet, especially in the first half. The Terps scooped 19 of 21 groundballs in the opening 30 minutes, won nine-of-12 faceoffs, and outshot the Cavs 26-11. Nevertheless, they led just 6-4 at the break.

"They came out of the locker room in the first half and carried the play to us in every way," said Virginia coach Dom Starsia. "I haven't been that angry with my team in a long time. The Terps were just beating us everywhere. At halftime, I almost couldn't believe we were only down by two."

Starsia said that all he stressed to his team was ball control.

"More than anything else, it was about getting the ball off the ground," he said. "It was as simple as that."

Maryland scored first in the second half as defenseman Brian Farrell netted his second goal of the game at 9:40 to extend the lead to 7-4. But the Terps were held scoreless the rest of the way.

Goals by Danny Glading (2g-1a) and Rhamel Bratton pulled the Cavs to within 7-6 at the end of the third quarter. Rubeor then tied the game midway through the fourth quarter on a bouncer past Maryland's Jason Carter (five saves).

Both teams had chances to net the potential game-winner before overtime, including a shot off the pipe by UM's Travis Reed with 5:20 left and a shot wide by UVA's Peter Lamade in the closing seconds. Ultimately, the stage was set for Rubeor.

"I was quite comfortable in the overtime," said Starsia, whose team improved to 4-0 in overtime games this season. "We were very intent on what we had to do to make a play. Ben has been a leader...since the day he stepped foot on campus four years ago. I think everybody looks over their shoulder at Ben. He is the definition of a clutch player."

Freshman Grant Catalino and Farrell each finished with two goals to lead Maryland, which led 3-0 midway through the first quarter after defenseman Brett Schmidt scored on a 30-yarder into an open net following a Virginia turnover on a failed clear.

"This one hurts a little but because we were in position to win this game," said Maryland coach Dave Cottle. "We played our tails off. We played awful hard."

Jeremy Sieverts added one goal and two assists for Maryland.

"Words can't express how we feel right now," said a tearful Farrell following the game.

Notes: Virginia is returning to the NCAA semifinal for the seventh time in the past nine seasons...The Cavaliers are now 2-3 all-time against the Terps in NCAA Tournament meetings, and beat the Terps for the first time in four tries in the national quarterfinal round...Rubeor is Virginia's leading scorer with 39 goals this season despite missing the first three games due to injury.,,Saturday's attendance of 17,017 set a new NCAA quarterfinal round record, besting the mark of 12,289 set at Hofstra in 1999.