Cummings, Shakespeare score three each in 16-11 victory
In calling off an annual lacrosse game, Maryland athletic director Kevin Anderson might be doing Georgetown a favor.
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Friday night at Georgetown, Maryland rolled to its second straight decisive victory in what will likely be the final game for a while in the series. Leading all the way in the 16-11 win, the Terrapins dominated every aspect before the Hoyas scored six cosmetic goals in the final four minutes, 25 seconds.
Junior Curtis Holmes (15 of 27 faceoffs) won 12 of the first 14 before tiring, while seniors Joe Cummings (three goals, two assists) and Michael Shakespeare (three goals) led the offense as Maryland improved to 2-0.
The young Maryland defense, led by sophomore Brian Cooper (three caused turnovers) limited the attack of Georgetown (0-1) to three goals and kept sophomore goalie Niko Amato (seven saves, seven goals) under-employed.
It was an equal opportunity offense as 10 Maryland players scored. The Terps’ first two midfield lines produced four goals each. Junior John Haus (one goal, three assists) and sophomore Mike Chanenchuk (two goals) led the first line. Shakespeare, who also did double duty in the defensive midfield, and junior Kevin Cooper (one goal, two assists) contributed on the second line.
“That’s what’s been fun about this team. We have no egos,” Maryland coach John Tillman said. “Everybody realized with what we lost last year, everybody was going to have to share and buy in and do their part.”
Backup attackmen Jay Carlson (two goals) and Rustin Bryant (two assists), who combined for three goals last week in a 12-6 win over Hartford, continued to thrive off the Terps bench.
“Everybody feels like they’re part of it,” Tillman said. “It’s a true team effort.”
Maryland jumped to a 6-1 lead before the game was 20 minutes old. Cummings scored the opening goal and passed for two more in the run. Shakespeare added two goals and Cooper had a goal and an assist.
With Holmes owning Georgetown senior Brian Tabb (3 of 13 faceoffs), Maryland dominated possession. But in the final two minutes of the first half, Georgetown junior Brian Casey (three goals) fed his midfield mate Zach Angel (two goals) and tallied a goal of his own to cut the Terps lead to 7-4.
But Maryland started the second half the way it did the first, notching nine of the first 10 goals. Cummings got the first two, then passed to Haus for another to ignite the run. Midway through the fourth period, the Terps were in cruise control, up 16-5.
“Offense, we took the opportunity to set the tone in the second half,” Cummings said. “Defense, midfield, attack — it feels like a total team win. It was awesome.”
Georgetown’s final burst was fueled by sophomore Tyler Knarr (one goal, 11 of 13 faceoffs) as the Hoyas worked over Maryland sophomore goalie Thomas Guarino, who played for the first time in his career.
