March 20, 2002
Complete Release With Player Profiles and Stats in PDF Format
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No. 5 MARYLAND (5-1) at No. 9 N. CAROLINA (5-0)
SATURDAY, MARCH 23, 2002 * 1:00 p.m.
FETZER FIELD (5,025/Grass), CHAPEL HILL, N.C.
o The nation's leading goal-scoring team and second-ranked defensive team, the No. 5 Maryland Terrapins head to North Carolina for the second of the three trips to Tobacco Road this season. The Terps face the No. 9 Tar Heels at Fetzer Field this Saturday at 1 p.m. Maryland will return to the Triangle for the third and final time for the ACC Tournament held at Duke on April 19 through 21.
o The Terps (5-1 overall, 0-1 ACC) come off back-to-back double-digit victories for the first time since 1994 with a 16-6 win at Bucknell last Tuesday and a 16-5 victory over Delaware last Saturday. The last time the Terps won consecutive games by 10 or more goals came on March 19 and 22, 1994, when they beat Cornell (19-9) and Ohio State (16-2), respectively. Also, the last time the Terps scored 16 or more goals in consecutive games came during the team's NCAA Tournament run in 1995, when they did it three games in a row: UMBC (16-14), Notre Dame (19-11) and Johns Hopkins (16-8).
o In the win over Delaware, Matt Brock (Manakin-Sabot, Va.) posted his first career hat trick and second straight game-winning goal. Dan LaMonica (Parkton, Md.) notched five points on two goals and three assists for the second straight game and is now second to only Mike Mollot (Holbrook, N.Y.) on the team in scoring -- Mollot also scored two vs. the Blue Hens. Other two-goal scorers vs. Delaware were Nate Watkins (Elmira, N.Y.), Mike LaMonica (Parkton, Md.) and Ryan Moran (Setauket, N.Y.). The defense was solid once again, allowing Delaware just three goals through the first 58 minutes of the game. Goalie Danny McCormick (McLean, Va.) made 11 saves and lowered his goals against average to 5.40.
o The Tar Heels enter the week undefeated at 5-0, prior to Wednesday's ACC clash with Duke in Durham. The Heels won the longest game in lacrosse history on March 2, when they outlasted then-No. 14 Navy, 11-10 in six overtimes. North Carolina also has wins against No. 22 Ohio State, 13-12 in three overtimes, No. 19 Bucknell, 12-3, Delaware, 16-9 and Denver, 9-8. They are led by the brother-tandem of Steven and Bryant Will, who have combined for 18 goals and 10 assists in two goals, ranking 1-2 on the Heels in scoring.
Maryland:
2002 Record: 5-1 (0-1 ACC)
2002 Rankings: 5thTie (USILA/Coaches) / 5th (Media)
Head Coach: Dave Cottle (Salisbury '78)
Coach's Record: 186-71 (.724)/20th season
Coach's Record at UM: 5-1 (.833)/1st season
Ass't Coach: Dave Slafkosky (Johns Hopkins '74)
Ass't Coach: Jon Stainbrook (Nazareth '93)
Ass't Coach: Graham Niemi (Maryland '97)
Leading Scorers: Mike Mollot (14g, 11a, 25pts.),
Dan LaMonica (10g, 13a, 23pts.), Mike Morsell (6g, 7a, 13pts.),
North Carolina:
2002 Record: 5-0 (0-0 ACC)
2002 Rankings: 9th (USILA/Coaches) / 9th (Media)
Head Coach: John Haus (North Carolina '83)
Coach's Record: 78-34 (.696)/8th season
Coach's Record at UNC: 11-6 (.647)/2nd season
Ass't Coach: Todd Cavallaro (Johns Hopkins '94)
Ass't Coach: J.P. Stewart (Hampden-Sydney '95)
Leading Scorers: Steven Will (11g, 2a, 13 pts.)
Bryant Will (7g, 8a, 15pts.), Andrew Lucas (9g, 2a, 11pts.)
Series Info:
All-Time Series: Maryland leads 29-17
Last Meeting: Maryland win, 11-7 on March 24, 2001
TERPS LEAD NATION IN TOTAL GOALS
o With a new offensive system in place under new coach Dave Cottle, the Maryland attack is scoring at a faster pace and taking more shots than in recent years. The Terps lead the nation in total goals with 86 and rank third in goals per game, pouring in 14.33 per contest. Only Yale (16.0) and Syracuse (14.8) are averaging more goals per game.
o Maryland has scored 13 or more goals in each victory this season with a season-high of 18 coming vs. Mount St. Mary's on Feb. 26.
o The Terps have scored 15 or more goals in three straight games and four overall this season. The last time the Terps scored 15 or more in consecutive games came in the first three games of the 1998 season, when they beat Villanova (18-5), Duke (15-9) and Towson (17-6).
o The 86 goals through six games is also the team's best start in scoring since that '98 season when they scored 91 in the first six games.
o With 15 goals against Towson on March 9, the Terps produced their highest goal total against a top-10 team in four seasons. The last time Maryland scored at least 15 goals against a highly-ranked team came on May 23, 1998, when the Terps piled up a 19-8 victory over No. 1 Loyola in the NCAA Quarterfinals.
NATIONAL TEAM OFFENSE
Team Goals (GPG)
1. MARYLAND 86 (14.33)
2. Denver 75 (12.50)
3. Syracuse 74 (14.80)
4. Massachusetts 73 (12.17)
5. Virginia 66 (13.20)
Statistics Through March 19
MOLLOT, LAMONICA AMONG LEADERS IN SCORING, GOALS, ASSISTS
o Junior Mike Mollot currently ranks No. 2 in the nation in scoring with 25 points, second only to Syracuse's Michael Powell (27 points). He leads the Terps with 12 goals and is tied for sixth in that category. He also ranks tied for eighth in total assists with 11.
o Following Mollot in the national scoring race is teammate Dan LaMonica (Parkton, Md.), who has 23 points to rank third. LaMonica's 13 assists leads Maryland and is tied for the third highest mark in the country.
NATIONAL SCORING LEADERS
Player, Team G-A=Pts.
1. Miichael Powell, Syracuse 15-12=27
2. Mike Mollot, MARYLAND 14-11=25
3. Dan LaMonica, MARYLAND 10-13=23
3. Tim Pearson, Army 10-13=23
3. Stephen Brundage, Loyola 10-13=23
Statistics Through March 19
WHAT A DIFFERENCE A YEAR MAKES!
o As Maryland continues to develop its offense, coach Dave Cottle has set a goal for seven players to score at least 10 goals this season (three already have 10 or more: Mike Mollot-14, Dan LaMonica-10 and Mike LaMonica-10). The Terps are well on their way to that goal as many players have surpassed their entire goal totals for all of 2001. Through six games, 10 Terps have more goals in 2002 than they had in 16 games last season. Seven players have scored goals after not scoring all of last season
o Junior Ryan Moran (Setauket, N.Y.) and senior captain Mike Morsell (Hungtingdon Valley, Pa.) both have six goals after not scoring all of last season. For Moran, the goals are the first six of his career. Matt Brock also has a career-best six goals in just six games after scoring just once last season.
o Sophomore J.R. Bordley (Vienna, Va.) has scored the first four goals of his career.
o Senior captain Nate Watkins (Elmira,N.Y.) has a career-best nine goals in 2002 after just five last season. Watkins came into the season with 13 career goals -- he can match that with four more.
SCORING MORE...
Player 2002 2001
Nate Watkins 9 5
Matt Brock 6 1
Mike Morsell 6 0
Ryan Moran 6 0
Craig Hochstadt 5 4
J.R. Bordley 4 0
Matt Urlock 4 0
Willy Passavia 2 0
Sean Leary 1 0
Chris Passavia 1 0
TERP DEFENSE CONTINUES TO BE ROCK SOLID
o Maryland has made defense a staple of its success over the past few seasons and 2002 is no different. With preseason All-Americans Michael Howley and Chris Passavia leading the way, the Terps have allowed just 6.00 goals per game to rank second in the nation in team defense to Wagner.
o Playing key roles on the defense are defensive midfielders Paul Gillette (Severna Park, Md.), Brett Harper (Columbus, Ohio) and Carrington King (Crozet, Va.) along with close defenders Lee Zink (Rowayton, Conn.) and Dave Wagner (Severna Park, Md.).
o Gillette leads the defensive crew with 26 groundballs -- tied for the team lead with face-off specialist Brian Carroll, who also has 26 groundballs.
o Four other defenders also have more than 10 groundballs after just six games (Passavia-18, Harper-18 and Howley-15, Zink-11).
o In goal, junior Danny McCormick (McLean, Va.) has been solid in his first season as the team's starter, posting a 5.40 goals against average and a 66.3 save percentage. His goalie rating of 37.78 on lax.com ranks sixth in the nation.
o Last season, the Terps were No. 2 in the nation in team defense giving up just 6.31 goals per game.
NATIONAL TEAM DEFENSE
Team GPG (GA)
1. Wagner 4.67 (14)
2. MARYLAND 6.00 (36)
3. Navy 6.60 (33)
4. Harvard 6.75 (27)
5. Cornell 7.00 (35)
MOLLOT PASSES 100 POINTS, EYES TOP 20 CHART
o With the seven points against Towson on March 9, Mike Mollot became the 30th player in Maryland history to surpass the 100-point plateau. He currently has 48 goals and 64 assists for 112 points in two-plus seasons. He stands 17 points short of Pat O'Meally (1971-74) for 20th on the all-time Maryland scoring list. O'Meally had 129 points in his career.
o He is 16 assists shy of the Terps' top 14 in career assists. Brendan Hanley had 80 from 1985-88 to rank 14th.
THE SERIES WITH NORTH CAROLINA
o Since Maryland and North Carolina began their series in 1964, Maryland holds a 29-17 (.630) advantage. Maryland has won the last six games, including last season's 11-7 win in College Park on March 24, 2001. Andrew "Buggs" Combs scored four goals and Dan LaMonica added two goals in the win at Byrd Stadium.
o The Terps won the last game at Chapel Hill between the teams, 10-9 on March 25, 2000. Mike LaMonica scored the final two goals of the game including the eventual game-winner with 7:38 left in regulation. That win was the Terps' first at Fetzer Field since 1986, when they also won 10-9. Maryland had lost seven straight games at Fetzer, but had defeated the Heels at UNC's Navy Field in 1998.
o Six of the last 10 meetings with North Carolina have been decided by one goal.
o The Terps lost their only NCAA Tournament meeting with the Heels in 1986, 12-10.
o In ACC Tournament action, Maryland picked up its first win over UNC since the tournament started in 1989 with a 13-8 win on April 17, 1998. The Terps had dropped the first six games against the Heels in the ACC's all during a stretch from 1990 to 1995.
LAST 10 TERP-HEEL GAMES
Mar. 24, 2001 Maryland 11, North Carolina 7
Mar. 25, 2000 Maryland 10, North Carolina 9
Mar. 27, 1999 Maryland 13, North Carolina 7
Apr. 17, 1998 Maryland 13, N. Carolina 8 (ACC SF)
Mar. 21, 1998 Maryland 12, North Carolina 11
Mar. 22, 1997 Maryland 13, North Carolina 12, OT
Mar. 23, 1996 North Carolina 17, Maryland 16
Apr. 21, 1995 N. Carolina 14, Maryland 9 (ACC SF)
Mar. 25, 1995 Maryland 13, North Carolina 12
Apr. 22, 1994 N. Carolina 8, Maryland 7 (ACC SF)
INDIVIDUAL TERPS VS. NORTH CAROLINA
o Eight members of the current Terps roster have recorded points against North Carolina in their careers.
o Mike LaMonica netted his second-career hat trick in the 2000 meeting with three goals, including the game-winner.
o Dan LaMonica scored twice in his debut vs. the Heels last season.
o Michael Howley scored his first career goal, vs. North Carolina last season to give Maryland a 1-0 lead just 1:06 into the game. Paul Gillette also scored his first collegiate goal in the 2001 game.
o Head coach Dave Cottle has a 6-9 record vs. North Carolina, but won his last game vs. the Heels in 1999, winning 10-7 in Chapel Hill. Against UNC coach John Haus, Cottle has a 1-1 record. Cottle led Loyola to a 14-5 over the Haus-led Johns Hopkins Blue Jays in 1999.
Scoring G-A-Pts.
Mike LaMonica 3-1-4
Mike Mollot 1-3-4
Dan LaMonica 2-1-
Alex Poole 1-1-2
Paul Gillette 1-0-1
Craig Hochstadt 1-0-1
Michael Howley 1-0-1
Nate Watkins 1-0-1
MOLLOT NAMED NATIONAL PLAYER OF THE WEEK
o In leading the Terps to the 15-10 victory over Towson, junior Mike Mollot was named the National Player of the Week by Warrior/Inside Lacrosse, Baltimore Sun Player of the Week and the ACC Player of the Week on March 11. Mollot had a career day against Towson as he tied his career high with seven points. The win avenged the loss the Terps suffered last year in the NCAA quarterfinals to the Tigers. The junior scored a career-high five goals and added two assists to tie his career best with seven points, which he had done twice before. It was his sixth career hat trick. He started an 8-2 run and scored four of his five goals during the stretch which lasted until the fourth quarter as the Terps broke open a 6-6 game in the second quarter.
HOWLEY NAMED TEWAARATON CANDIDATE
o Terps junior defenseman Michael Howley is one of 12 players named as a candidate for the Tewaaraton Trophy, the most cherished and prestigious award a varsity lacrosse player can receive and a symbol of excellence in college lacrosse.
o The Tewaaraton Trophy is presented annually following the collegiate season to the top female and male varsity collegiate lacrosse players in the United States. Scholarship money is given to the award recipient's college or university general scholarship fund. The Foundation committee honors Native American heritage with the name "Tewaaraton," the name the Mohawk nation gave to their game and the progenitor of present day lacrosse and has received approval from the Mohawk Council of Elders.
o Every eligible male and female college varsity player in Divisions I, II and III is considered a nominee. Nominations are requested from all varsity coaches. A selection committee comprised of coaches for both male and female candidates oversees the voting process. There are five wild-card spots left open for a new candidate(s) who emerges during the season. The five finalists will be announced in May.
o The Tewaaraton Trophy Awards Dinner will be presented at The University Club of Washington, DC on June 5, 2002 at a banquet honoring the finalists and winners. Hofstra's Doug Shanahan won last year's trophy.
SENIOR CAPTAINS
o Maryland will feature four senior captains in 2002. New coach Dave Cottle has named Andy Burman (Kensington, Md.), Mike LaMonica (Parkton, Md.), Mike Morsell (Huntingdon Valley, Pa,) and Nate Watkins (Elmira, N.Y.) as the captains for the team.
AMERICA'S TEAM
o Of course the sport of lacrosse is a regional one, being played mostly in the Northeast, but Maryland's coaching staff has combed the nation far and wide to compose the 2002 Terp roster which features players from a school-record 11 states. Never before has Maryland had more than eight states represented on its roster. However, the 2002 team includes the first-ever recruits from California and Colorado, giving the team its first Western natives since the start of the program in 1924.
o Coming from California are Peter Ellis and Drew Virk, both of whom are from Ross, Calif., and played at St. Ignatius College Prep in San Francisco. From Colorado is freshman Mark Foster, who prepped at Kent Denver.
o Add to that freshman Dave Matz, who is the first player from Vermont to play for the Terps, and 11 states are represented in total. Of the 11 newcomers on the roster for 2002, nine different states are represented.
o Two other players on the roster previously were the first recruits from their states, as junior Brett Harper came from Upper Arlington High School in Ohio and junior Sean Leary came to College Park from Detroit Country Day School in Michigan in 1999.
THREE GAMES ON WMAR-TV
o WMAR-TV (channel 2) in Baltimore will continue its bold concept of telecasting college lacrosse in the state of Maryland by presenting the Lacrosse Game of the Week. Beginning Saturday, March 2 and continuing through Saturday, May 4, WMAR will broadcast 13 games live.
o The Terps will be featured on WMAR three times: March 9, when Towson comes to Byrd Stadium, April 5 when the Terps host Navy and April 13 as part of a men's-women's doubleheader vs. Johns Hopkins. The seven-time defending NCAA champ Terp women face the Blue Jays at noon, followed by the men's game at 3 p.m..
o Former All-American goalie Quint Kessenich joins WMAR's broadcast team of Scott Garceau and Keith Mills to bring the Baltimore area the greatest lacrosse television coverage ever.
WMUC (88.1) TO BROADCAST GAMES
o WMUC (88.1 FM) and wmuc.umd.edu will broadcast up to nine men's lacrosse games in 2002. A tentative schedule has been set, but is subject to change due to other Maryland sporting events. The action will be called by Rishi Barran, Evan Parker, Steve Rudenstein and Josh Madden. A pregame show precedes each game.
MEDIA INFORMATION
o Email Straight To You: If you would like the latest Maryland men's lacrosse news emailed directly to you as soon as it breaks, email men's lacrosse contact Jason Yellin at jyellin@wam.umd.edu with the message "Men's Lacrosse Email" as the subject and you will receive every update distributed about the team.
o Terrapin Fan Phone: The Fan Phone is currently experiencing technical difficulties. It will be rectified soon.
