Terrapins Topple Undefeated U-Va.

Carter Has Career-High 15 Saves: Maryland 13, Virginia 7

By design, the Maryland men's lacrosse team has used two goalkeepers -- junior Jason Carter and sophomore Brian Phipps -- in every game this season. The same held true yesterday against No. 1 Virginia, though not in the way that was expected.

Phipps relieved Carter, but not until less than two minutes remained in No. 4 Maryland's 13-7 victory before nearly 5,000 at Byrd Stadium. By then, Carter had finished with a career-high 15 saves for the Terrapins (7-2, 2-1 ACC).

In the first eight games, Maryland alternated Phipps and Carter -- each played a half. That plan went out the window yesterday. In the first half, Carter had seven saves and the Terrapins led 9-3.

As the team left the locker room for the start of the second half, Coach Dave Cottle tapped Carter on the shoulder and told him he was going back into the game.

"Phipps and I were waiting to go off and get warmed up, and Phipps said, 'You're going to stay in,' " Carter said. "And I said, 'Nah, you're joking.' But then Coach told me I was playing."

Maryland's coaches had been hoping that either Phipps or Carter would play well enough to make the rotation moot. Entering yesterday, the stronger candidate was Phipps.

He made five saves in a 13-8 victory over North Carolina last week; Carter made one. Phipps had a 5.95 goals against average and .589 save percentage. Carter had an 8.62 goals against average and .534 save percentage.

"We had some big chances early and Jason Carter made some great stops early in the game," Virginia Coach Dom Starsia said. "He seemed like he came up with the big save when they had to have it. . . . At the end of the day, that was probably the story of the day overall. I thought we generated enough scoring chances to score more."

The Cavaliers (9-1, 0-1) had to wonder about a goalie change at halftime, too, though for the wrong reason.

In the first half, the Terrapins took leads of 3-0 and 9-2. Adam Ghitelman had six saves in the first half. On the bench was fifth-year senior Bud Petit and sophomore Mark Wade (Lake Braddock). The three received roughly the same amount of playing time in the preseason before Ghitelman was named the starter.

Ghitelman finished with 11 saves.

"I don't think we were tough enough on defense early in the game," Starsia said. "I don't think we were tough enough individually or as a unit. Nor were we cohesive enough."