Catalino rises in the first half, Reed in the second for Terps
With Will Yeatman (broken hand) out of the lineup and the Maryland lacrosse team struggling against a defense that has always given it fits, the Terps needed something special Saturday against Navy.
Finally they got it from junior attackmen Grant Catalino, Ryan Young, and Travis Reed. After failing to score in the first 24 minutes, 47 seconds, the trio unleashed some pent-up frustration against pesky Navy, propelling Maryland to an 11-9 victory before 5,618 at Byrd Stadium.
After Catalino (three goals) ended the drought, scoring all his goals in a lights-out display of shooting in a 2:28 span of the second period, Reed (four goals, one assist) and Young (one goal, four assists) took over after intermission.
Their syncopation was evident midway through the fourth period on the Terps’ most important goal, Catalino swinging the ball across the crease to Reed, who passed up a good shot to feed Young for a better one. The score gave the Terps an 11-9 lead with 7:16 left.
“Ryan always gives me crap. He always gives me assists and that was my first ever career assist to Ryan,” said Reed. “So it was a pretty big deal.”
With sophomore Joe Cummings, also contributing a tally, the Terps’ attack combined for nine of their 11 goals.
It was the first time since 1998 that the Terps scored double-digit goals on the Mids. Navy had won five of the previous six meetings and held Maryland to a combined eight goals (and none for Catalino) the last two years.
“It was the white elephant that you never talk about – that you’ve lost five of the last six,” said Maryland coach Cottle. “Our kids, when they started to score, I think they really relaxed. It was important to score and get the lead at the half.”
But on Saturday, the injury-riddled Mids had to dip into the depth chart, as 6-foot-4 senior defender Gordon Lawson got his first career start and drew the 6-5 Catalino.
“I don’t know why I hadn’t been able to score against this team,” said Catalino. “Their defense is tough. It was hard work getting to 11. They fight hard. They get ground balls. They pressure hard. They do things that make it hard on the offense.”
After momentarily losing his startling slot to Yeatman, who was shifted from midfield before he was injured in practice Monday, Reed’s performance might have been the most encouraging sign for Maryland.
“It’s been slump for our team against them, a slump for me all year,” said Reed who entered with seven goals. “I haven’t really found my shot against them, but this week in practice I felt it. Last night I was telling all the parents, I was going to come out of my shell. Today was the day.”
All of the goals from Reed, a left-hander, came from the right wing, including three on assists from Young in a 5:13 span of the third period that gave the Terps the lead for good.
Despite dominating the statistics, winning more ground balls, 47-26, more faceoffs, 17-6, and out-shooting Navy, 43-25, Maryland (7-2) couldn’t shake Navy (5-6) as the Mids got 17 saves from sophomore R.J. Wickham.
When senior attack Kyle Kapron, who entered the game with four career goals, scored for the third time in a 9:58 span, Navy drew to within a goal, 9-8, early in the fourth period.
After Reed scored to put the Terps back up by two, the Mids answered again with the third goal of the afternoon from senior midfielder Joe Lennon. But over the last 9:14, Maryland (7-2) dominated possession and kept Navy off the scoreboard.
Also contributing for Maryland were goalie Brian Phipps (10 saves), midfielder Bryn Holmes (15 of 21 faceoffs), defender Max Schmidt (5 ground balls) and midfielder Jesse Bernhardt (3 caused turnovers).
Maryland will be without Yeatman for Saturday’s game against Johns Hopkins, but he could return for the ACC Tournament, April 23-25, in College Park.
“With can win with Will, we can with without Will,” said Catalino. “Obviously with him, it’s a huge asset. We have plenty of other guys who can score. It’s not going to effect us that much.”
