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Jim Quist @ACCTheQ –
Call it, lucky seven. The Virginia men’s lacrosse team clinched their second consecutive NCAA championship title over Maryland. It’s the seventh national title in program history for the Cavaliers. No. 4 seed Virginia earned the right to face off with the No. 3 seeded Terps after defeating No. 1 seed North Carolina 12-11 in the semifinals. Maryland took out No. 2 seed Duke 14-5 in their semifinal matchup. Those two upset wins set the stage for the NCAA Men’s Lacrosse Championship.
The game began as more of a defensive battle as both teams struggled to find net for close to seven minutes. The Terps’ Daniel Maltz broke the offensive drought off an assist by Kyle Long. Virginia’s Matt Moore delivered the retort off a low left side shot.
It didn’t take long to unleash both sides on the offensive side of the ball. Long scored the second point for Maryland and Virginia responded to tie it up again at 2-2. The Terps surged ahead but not for long as Jeff Conner and Matt Moore scored for the Cavaliers to make it a 4-4 game at the end of the first quarter.
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Virginia put on a 4 point rally that went unanswered into the second quarter. Jared Conners interrupted a Maryland pass and sprinted downfield to put a point on the run to a 6-4 lead. That 4 point rally turned into a 6 point blast as Connor Shellenberger and Jeff Conner punched in back to back goals.
Lucky Seven
Maryland’s Jared Berhhardt cranked out a two point, two minute answer to move the Terps within two as Virginia led 8-6. Virginia scored the last goal of the first half to take a 9-7 lead into the locker room.
The second half found the Terps coming out hot on offense. Maryland delivered a goal in the first 53 seconds. Virginia’s Dox Aitken answered 41 seconds later. Maryland was determined to cut the lead as they scored four goals in the first six minutes of the third quarter and tied the game at 11-all.
Virginia’s Peter Garno, Shellenberger and Moore broke the tie to take a 14-11 advantage going into the fourth quarter.
With about 11 minutes left in the championship tilt Virginia led 16-11 in the fourth following goals from Shellenberger and Moore.
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It was do or die time for the Terps as the clock ticked. Maryland found their second wind when it counted as they scored three goals in 61 seconds to cut Virginia’s lead to two late in the fourth quarter. With the score at 16-15 Virginia’s Moore came up with yet another goal to move the Cavaliers into a 17-15 lead.
Maryland wouldn’t go away quietly though as Anthony DeMaio scored with 11 seconds to inch the Terps closer. Maryland won the final face-off but Luke Wierman’s game tying shot was blocked by Virginia’s goalie Alex Rode as the Cavaliers locked down the win, 17-16.
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