By: Jacob Steinberg
Maryland and Johns Hopkins showed why their rivalry is the greatest in college lacrosse with the Terps winning 8-7 in a triple overtime thriller. The No. 3 Maryland Terrapins (11-2, 4-1 Big Ten) defeated No. 7 Johns Hopkins (9-4, 3-2 Big Ten) in front of thousands at Homewood Field clinching the Big Ten Regular Season Title. It was not an easy victory, but the Terps showed the resiliency that the program is known for by coming back to defeat their in state rival.
The Terps’ offense showed they can have success outside of their top guns, Jared Bernhardt and Connor Kelly had no goals and two assists combined. Dan Morris’ 13 saves along with the talented defensive duo of senior Bryce Young and junior Curtis Corley led the charge in limiting one of the best offenses in the country. The Blue Jays feature some extremely talented players including: Cole Williams, Joel Tinney, Kyle Marr and Shack Stanwick.
Hopkins struck first, senior Joel Tinney fired an outside shot past Morris off the feed from senior Shack Stanwick, who was returning from injury. The lead would only last for five seconds, Freshman Justin Shockey won the clamp on the faceoff clean and took it himself for the goal. Shockey’s goal was his first as a Terrapin and a great start for a team that had been struggling at the faceoff for numerous games prior.
Stanwick scored his only goal of the game from in tight, on a feed from sophomore Cole Williams. Senior Tim Rotanz extended his consecutive point streak to 27 games, scoring into the bottom right corner of the net with 8:43 left in the first. At the end of one quarter the score was tied at two, setting up what would be a defensive battle the rest of the way.
Maryland’s defense did an outstanding job defensively in the second quarter, shutting out Hopkins. Connor Kelly was a bit shaken up in the second quarter, but the senior leader did not let it keep him off the field for long. With just over a minute until the half, freshman Bubba Fairman drew a slide and fed freshman Logan Wisnauskas for the goal, his first of three on the day. At the half, led by great defense and great goalie play, the Terps led 3-2.
Similar to the first half the Blue Jays scored two goals less than four minutes in. First Marr fed freshman Connor DeSimone and then junior Alex Concannon fired the outside shot past Morris making it 4-3. When trying to evade Hopkins’ defenders Kelly injured his leg, but once again would not let it hold him back from playing in this historic rivalry.
With 9:23 left in the third quarter, Wisnauskas scored another goal, this time off the feed from Rotanz who had a big day with three points. Exhibiting some frustration after his injury, Kelly was called for a one minute penalty setting up the Hopkins EMO unit. On a miscommunication, Tinney was left wide open in the middle setting up an easy layup goal off the feed from freshman Luke Shilling making it 5-4 Blue Jays.
Senior Goalie Brock Turnbaugh came up with some big saves in third quarter before Rotanz was able to tie it up with a diving goal using a beautiful split dodge to create separation from his defender. After three quarters the game was tied at five, the fewest goals the Terps had scored entering any fourth quarter this season.
Hopkins scored two goals in the first five minutes of the fourth, Concannon scored his second of the day on an alley dodge and Marr scored low on a wrap around goal. After being stifled for much of the fourth quarter, the Terps offense knew they needed to dig deep.
Wrapping around, Bernhardt fed a cutting Wisnauskas across the crease to complete the hat trick cutting the lead to 7-6 with 3:33 remaining. Seattle native Will Snider tied the game at seven, rifling a shot into the top left corner of the net executing the two man game to perfection with 2:33 remaining. After the Terps defense stifled Hopkins attempt to score the game winner it was time for sudden death overtime.
The first overtime was a defensive battle without many good opportunities to score for either team. That all changed in the second overtime with both teams generating numerous chances.
The best opportunity came off a huge Morris save on Tinney setting up the fast break. Young fired a shot over the post and shoulder of Turnbaugh. After nearly 15 minutes without a goal, Wisnauskas fed cross field to an open Snider with time and room, and he fired an absolute rocket for the win with 3:11 remaining in the third overtime.
After a thrilling victory in Baltimore, the Terps will look to continue their momentum going forward in the Big Ten Tournament and beyond where they will be the No. 1 seed next week in Ann Arbor.
