In Day of Rivals, Terps beat Hopkins for first time in four years
BALTIMORE – Flinging the ball backward, over his head, 60 yards downfield, Maryland’s Brian Farrell symbolized Maryland’s joy at defeating rival Johns Hopkins for the first time in four years.
For seniors such as goalie Brian Phipps, the Terrapins’ 10-9 victory in the second annual Day of Rivals before 20,911 at M&T Bank Stadium was sweet vindication after three painful losses – two by a single goal — to their in-state rival the last three seasons.
“Growing up a Maryland fan, you always root against Hopkins,” said Phipps (eight saves). “It feels really good to win.”
Maryland (8-2) got goals from eight different players, excelled on special teams, and dominated the ground balls in the second half. The Terps cashed in on all four of their extra-man opportunities and held the Blue Jays scoreless on six of seven of theirs.
“It’s been a frustration for us since the end of the first period of the first game this season,” said Hopkins coach Dave Pietramala. “It’s a matter of simple execution and good, simple decisions, and not throwing the look-away pass and do something fancy. That’s not us.”
After committing six penalties in the first half, none of which Johns Hopkins capitalized on, Maryland felt fortunate to trail by just 4-3. In the second half, the Terps won 19 of 25 ground balls, finishing with a 31-21 edge.
“They earned that win in two places – extra man and ground balls,” said Pietramala. “I don’t think we played poorly. I think we played unintelligently.”
Hopkins (5-6) is in danger of seeing its record streak of 38 consecutive NCAA Tournament bids end. The Blue Jays probably need wins over Navy, Towson, and Loyola to keep the streak alive.
“We’re gonna make a run at this – no ifs, ands or buts,” said Pietramala. “This isn’t all we got.”
Maryland seized control with a four-goal run in the second half. The first three goals came in man-up situations. Two came in a span of 21 seconds after Hopkins senior defender Matt Drenan was called for a cross-check and junior long stick midfielder Michael Orry followed with an unsportsmanlike conduct call.
Junior attack Travis Reed (two goals, one assist) and senior attack Will Yeatman each had a goal and an assist during the rally, which put Maryland in front 9-5 with 12:12 left.
When Hopkins sophomore midfielder Marshall Burkhardt scored with 7:04 left, Maryland freshman Jessie Bernhardt retaliated immediately as a faceoff wing, scooping the ball off the turf and sprinting downfield for a booming sidewinder shot that got the Terps lead back to four goals.
“Jessie went from the outhouse to the penthouse. I think he had [three] penalties in that game,” said Maryland coach Dave Cottle. “He scored the go-ahead goal against Georgetown. The kid is fearless. He picks the ball off the ground and he just keeps running.”
Hopkins made one last run as Steven Boyle (three goals) and Michael Kimmel (two goals, two assists) scored in a 52-second span to make it 10-9 with a minute left. But Bryn Holmes (13 of 21) won the ensuing faceoff with help from junior midfielder Dan Burns, who picked up the most important of his four ground balls.
Maryland’s experience edge showed. Of the 27 players Hopkins used, 10 were freshmen.
“All year we’ve been really good at staying composed and not getting too antsy, not trying to force anything,” said Reed.
Composure was the word of the day, especially for the Maryland veterans, who managed to stay cool in a game they wanted badly.
“We were in virgin territory with our seniors here,” joked Cottle.
