After Being Stripped on First Possession of OT, Senior Atones With Goal to Oust Maryland: Virginia 8, Maryland 7
By Christian Swezey
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, May 18, 2008
The Maryland lacrosse team escaped unscathed the first time Virginia senior attackman Ben Rubeor had the ball in sudden-death overtime in an NCAA men's lacrosse tournament quarterfinal yesterday in Annapolis. The Terrapins were not as fortunate the second time.
Rubeor scored the winning goal on a bounce shot with 31 seconds left in overtime to lead the Cavaliers to an 8-7 victory before 17,017 at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. It was a record crowd for an NCAA quarterfinal.
With the victory, the second-seeded Cavaliers (14-3) advanced to a national semifinal Saturday in Foxborough, Mass.
Virginia freshman Garret Ince won the opening faceoff in overtime. Following a timeout, the ball went to Rubeor. But the Cavaliers lost possession after Rubeor was stripped by Maryland shortstick defender Bryn Holmes, a sophomore. The Terrapins (10-6) moved into their offensive end and called timeout with 3 minutes 16 seconds left.
In Maryland's huddle, Coach Dave Cottle decided to insert his extra-man offense. And he called the same play that had worked for a point-blank shot by freshman Travis Reed with 5:25 to play; Reed was open on the play, but his shot hit the crossbar and bounced away.
Meantime, Virginia Coach Dom Starsia's message was more simple.
"As we broke the huddle," Starsia said, "I said, 'Let's give Ben another chance with the ball.' "
Following a restart, he passed to freshman Brett Weiss on the crease; Weiss was surrounded by players and a loose ball ensued. Virginia sophomore Max Pomper emerged with it and the Cavaliers had another chance.
The Cavaliers ran the same play for Rubeor as on the first possession. Holmes briefly went to defend Rubeor again but stopped short. Meantime, Rubeor's primary defender, senior Ryne Adolph, had stopped in the mistaken belief that Holmes would guard Rubeor.
A split second and some open space were all Rubeor needed to score the winning goal past junior goalkeeper Jason Carter.
"I was stripped by the shortpole the first time, but we kind of liked that matchup," Rubeor said. "I came off the pick and they switched at first, but the shortpole didn't stay on me."
Said Cottle: "We were just a little impatient and kind of chucked it away. . . . Give [Virginia] credit: They took that away."
It was the third meeting between the teams this year. In the first, Maryland's starting freshmen attackmen -- Reed, Grant Catalino and Ryan Young -- combined for six goals and three assists in a 13-7 victory.
The Cavaliers changed their defensive assignments on all three in the rematch in the ACC tournament. Reed did not take a shot, Catalino scored one even-strength goal and Young was held to one goal in Virginia's 11-8 win.
Yesterday, the Terrapins changed their top two midfield lines; they put the three biggest midfielders on one line and the three smaller ones on the second.
The moves helped Maryland to a dominant first half: It had a 19-2 advantage in groundballs and 26-11 advantage in shots. Yet it only led 6-4.
In the end, Maryland lamented a goal by Reed that was disallowed early in the fourth quarter after referees ruled that a Maryland player had committed a violation by being in the crease. Oddly, the Terrapins were given possession after the goal was disallowed.
Maryland sophomore defensive midfielder Brian Farrell finished with two goals, and junior Jeremy Sieverts added a goal and two assists. Rubeor finished with three goals, and fifth-year senior goalkeeper Bud Petit had 14 saves. Ince won the game's final four faceoffs.
"I was quite comfortable in overtime," Starsia said. "Everyone had a smile on their face in the huddle, and I think we were very intent on what we had to do to make a play."
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