In 13-10 win at Maryland, sophomore notches hat trick in 1st college start
As a freshman last year at Georgetown, Ryan Shuler was buried on the bench behind a talented attack line. At times, the only way Hoyas coach Dave Urick could get him on the field was to play him in the defensive midfield.
But Saturday at Maryland, Shuler was back where he belonged. Scoring a hat trick in his first college start, Shuler helped No. 8 Georgetown to a 13-10 victory over No. 3 Maryland before 2,530 at Ludwig Field.
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Dodging a defender from behind the goal, Shuler scored 3 minutes, 38 seconds in, then added goals in each half as the Hoyas won their opener, beating Maryland (2-1) for just the second time in eight tries.
“I wasn’t sure how nervous he would be,” said Urick. “I think Ryan proved something we figured out all last year — he’s not a middie. He’s an attackman. He did an excellent job.”
Shuler’s best goal came in the third period on another spin move from behind the goal. He was hit as he shot but got a ground-level view as the ball got past Maryland junior goalie Brian Phipps (five saves).
The goal gave Georgetown the lead for good, 8-7, and came during a dominating 6-0 run that featured outstanding riding by the Hoyas. In the third period the Georgetown defense forced six turnovers and allowed Maryland just four shots.
Georgtown also got stellar defense from 6-foot-6 junior Barney Ehrmann, who shut out Maryland junior Will Yeatman. The 6-6, 265-pound Yeatman, a transfer from Notre Dame, took five shots.
“I think he’s a great player on a really good team,” said Yeatman. “He definitely got the better of me today. He played well.”
Ehrmann, usually a long-stick midfielder, was employed on close defense Saturday to combat the size of Yeatman. Ehrmann had a team-high five ground balls.
The Maryland attack also boasts 6-5, 240-pound Grant Catalino (two goals), who had the first and final goals for the Terps among his six shots. He was checked by Georgetown junior Erik Bicknese.
“Our offense feeds off our defense and our defense feeds off our offense, but we never really got that started this game,” said Catalino. “We’ve got a lot of things to work on.”
