May 10, 2007

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The No. 7 seeded Maryland men's lacrosse team hosts unseeded UMBC in the NCAA Tournament First Round this Sunday at Chevy Chase Bank Field at Byrd Stadium. Face-off is set for 7:30 p.m., as the Terps (10-5 overall) battle the Retrievers (10-5) for the first time in post-season play.

• For complete game notes for Maryland's first round tournament game vs. UMBC click here.

• Tickets can be purchased on-line at umterps.com.

• Live audio feeds of the game will be available via WMUCSports.com, Maryland's student radio station. Live stats of the game will be available on umterps.com.

• The Terps are making their 30th NCAA Tournament appearance, the second most of any school in NCAA history. Maryland returns to the event after back-to-back trips to the NCAA Semifinals in 2005 and 2006. UMBC is making just its fourthappearance in the NCAA men's lacrosse tournament after earning an at-large bid out of the America East Conference.

• The winner of the Maryland/UMBC game will take on the winner of the No. 3 seed Virginia (12-3)/Delaware (11-5) game on Sunday, May 20 at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Md.. The Cavaliers and Blue Hens play in Charlottesville, Va., on Sunday, May 13 at 5 p.m. at Klöckner Stadium.The other quarterfinal in Annapolis will pit the winner of the No. 1 Duke (14-2)/Providence (7-9) game against the winner of the No. 8 North Carolina (9-5)/Navy (11-3) game. For the complete 2007 NCAA tournament brackey click here.

Maryland's 30th Time At NCAA's
• Maryland is making its 30th overall NCAA Tournament appearance in 2007. The Terps have played in the second-most tournaments since the event began in 1971. Only Hopkins has played in more with 35. UMBC is making its fourth NCAA appearance.

• In the first round of the tournament, the Terrapins have a 9-2 (.818) record overall. Maryland has also received six byes into the second round.

• The Terps have captured two NCAA championships, 1973 and 1975, and have now reached the NCAA Semifinals 19 times, including three of the last four years.

Maryland's Record In NCAA's
• The Terps have won the third-most Division I NCAA Tournament games, compiling a 39-27 overall record in 66 games. Only Johns Hopkins (57-27) and Syracuse (50-18) have won more Division I games.

• Maryland is fourth by percentage (.591) among all teams ever to play in the tournament (Syracuse (50-18, .746), Princeton (29-10, .744), and Johns Hopkins (57-27, .679) are ahead).

• The Terps have captured two titles. Only six other schools have ever won the NCAA Championship: Syracuse (9), Johns Hopkins (8), Princeton (6), North Carolina (4), Cornell (3), Virginia (3).

Maryland As The No. 7 Seed
• This marks the third time that Maryland has been named the No. 7 seed in the NCAA tournament. Maryland is 2-2 all-time as the No. 7 seed.

• The Terps were previously a No. 7 seed in 1982 and 1991. In 1982, Maryland lost a first round game to Johns Hopkins by a 14-9 margin. In 1991, Maryland advanced to the Final Four, but lost to Towson, 15-11, in the semifinals.

Cottle In The NCAA Tournament
• This is Dave Cottle's fifth NCAA Tournament appearance as the head coach of Maryland. He is coaching his 19th team to the NCAA Tournament, with the first 14 coming during his stint at Loyola. All 14 of his appearances with the Greyhounds came consecutively starting with the 1988 season and going through the 2001 campaign.

• Overall, Cottle is 15-18 in NCAA Tournament games, which ranks him third among all coaches in the 2007 tournament in wins. Only Princeton's Bill Tierney (29-10) and Virginia's Dom Starsia (25-15) have more tournament wins to their credit among this year's crop.

• With his 19th tournament appearance, Cottle is tied for first place on the all-time list for most NCAA Tournament Division I appearances as a head coach with Syracuse's Roy Simmons Jr., Virginia's Dom Starsia and Towson's Tony Seaman. With his streak of 14-consecutive tournaments while at Loyola, Cottle is behind only to Simmons Jr. (19) and Bill Tierney (15), for the longest-consecutive steak.

• Cottle has led his teams to the NCAA Quarterfinals on 16 occasions and to the NCAA semifinals five times, making an appearance in the 1990 championship game where Loyola fell to Syracuse, 21-9. He also reached the NCAA semifinals as the No. 1 seed with Loyola, but lost to Maryland, 19-8, at Byrd Stadium on May 23, 1998. At Maryland he has now lead the Terps to three semifinal berths, falling to eventual champion Virginia, 14-4, at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore on May 24, 2003, a 18-9 loss to No. 2 seed Duke, 18-9, on May 28, 2005, and an 8-5 loss to UMass in 2006.

Coaching Match-Up
• Now in his 25th season as a head coach, Dave Cottle comes into the game with a 248-97 career record for a 71.9 win percentage, sixth-highest among active coaches. His win total is fifth among active coaches. He is 67-27 (71.3) in his six seasons at Maryland.

• Don Zimmerman is in his 21st season season as a head coach and holds a lifetime record of 173-103 (.627). He has been the head coach at UMBC for 14 years and is 100-89 (.529) with the Retrievers.

• Cottle has recorded an 18-2 career record against UMBC, 12-2 while he served as the head coach at Loyola. Prior to his 6-0 run at Maryland vs. UMBC, he last faced UMBC as he led his Loyola team to a 19-8 victory in 1996. Cottle has won every game against UMBC since 1988, including the last seven against current UMBC coach Don Zimmerman.

Gorski Faces Old Team
• Maryland volunteer assistant coach Steve Gorski, who works primarily with the goalies, lettered at UMBC from 1993-96 playing goalie and defense. He made 35 appearances with the Retrievers, starting 14 games in goal and stands 10th all-time in career saves with 224.

Series History vs. UMBC
• Maryland holds a 24-4 lifetime advantage in 28 meetings with state rival UMBC. Maryland has won the last eight games, 11-7 earlier this season, 9-4 last season at UMBC, 16-10 in 2005 at Byrd Stadium, 9-4 in 2004 at UMBC, 15-8 in College Park in 2003, 19-9 in 2002; 14-4 in the 2001 home finale at Ludwig Field and eight seasons ago, 15-7 in Catonsville on May 6, 2000. Those wins ended a two-year run of Terp losses to the Retrievers in 1998 and 1999.

• UMBC upset the then-No. 1 Terps in the regular-season finale in 1998, 12-8 at UMBC. They repeated the upset in the 1999 finale, winning 7-6 in College Park in the last game between the teams at Byrd Stadium. Prior to that pair of losses, Maryland had won six meetings in a row from 1992-1997.

• Over the last eight wins, Maryland has outscored UMBC 108-53, for an average score of 13.5-6.6.

• Earlier this season, Maryland topped the Retrievers, 11-7, at Chevy Chase Bank Field at Byrd Stadium. Sophomore midfielder Jeremy Sieverts scored his first hat trick as a Terp, while junior attackman Max Ritz chipped in with two goals and an assist. Senior defender Ray Megill scored the first points of his career with a goal and an assist.

• Last season the Terps entered the game as the No. 1 team in the nation and the Retrievers were looking for the upset. Maryland only led by one heading into the fourth quarter, but the Terrapin defense shutout UMBC for the final 15 minutes, allowing the offense to score four unanswered goals to take home a 9-4 win. The senior trio of Bill McGlone (2-2=4), Xander Ritz (3-0=3) and Joe Walters (3-0=3) were the main weapons for the Terrapins but it was junior attackman Michael Phipps that scored the game-winning goal.

• In 2005 Joe Walters tied then-career highs with six goals and seven points to lead No. 4 Maryland to a 16-10 win over the Retrievers at Byrd Stadium. First team All-American Bill McGlone also had a career day for the Terps, setting his career high with five goals in the victory. Brendan Healy scored twice and added a pair of assists, while long pole Ryan Clarke set his career high with six groundballs. The Terrapins dominated possession, thanks in large part to winning 20 of 29 face-offs. David Tamberrino won 14 of 18, tying his personal best for wins in a game.

• In 2004 Joe Walters lead the Terps to a hard-fought 9-4 win with a natural hat trick in the second quarter. The Maryland defense was sensational, holding UMBC scoreless for 29:12 bridging the second through the fourth quarters. Terp goalie Tim McGinnis made 13 saves, including eight in the fourth quarter to preserve the victory.

• In the 2003 game in College Park, Mike Mollot and Joe Walters each had three goals while former Retriever Justin Smith had two goals and two assists in his first game vs. his former team.

• This will be just the fourth time the two teams will play in the month of March. The 2003 game on April 25 was the first time since 1977, that Maryland-UMBC game was not be played in May. The UMBC game had been the last contest on Maryland's regular-season schedule for the 13 years, dating 1990 through 2002, with Maryland winning 10 of 13 regular-season finales.

UMBC-Maryland Connections
• Separated by less than 30 miles, it's no coincidence that there are 16 former high school teammates that will be reuinited on the field today.

• Not just high school teammates, the Gallagher family will have rooting interest on both sides of the field as big brother Andy, a UMBC senior attackman, will meet up with Danny, a sophomore attackman at Maryland for the second time in college.

• Calvert Hall, Mt. St. Joseph's and St. Mary's high schools will be represented by a combined 13 former student-athletes. Maryland's Jeff Reynolds (out for the season with a torn ACL) will have fellow Calvert Hall alums Jeremy Blevins and Michael Bryan. Jason Carter and Will Dalton will be reunited with fellow 2004 St. Mary's grad, UMBC junior Conor Devlin. James Hyland and Travis Bowman are also St. Mary's grads. Mt. St. Joseph's will have Maryland's Kevin Slafkosky and UMBC's Tim Anderson, Sam Eitel, Brandon Mathias and Jordan Pierce representing the Gaels.

• Severn will have Terrapin brothers Michael and Brian Phipps competing against sophomore defender John Eckert.

• Liberty High will have Maryland junior Zach Hinton and Retriever freshman Matt Latham on the field.

• Maryland's Nick Kellinger and UMBC's Matt Curtin are both Centennial High alums.

• Today's game will not just reunite high school teammate, but it will be a mini-reunion of CCBC-Essex lacrosse. Maryland's Jon Beard, the 2005 NJCAA Offensive Player of the Year, will be reunited with former Knights Travis Begay, Dan Cormack, and Josh Porcell.

Shooting Tells The Story
• The difference between winning and losing for Maryland this season is simple - when the Terps shoot well they win. Coach Dave Cottle is on record saying that good teams will shoot at least 30%. As it turns out 30% is the magic number for the Terps this season.

• In Maryland's 10 victories this season the Terrapins are shooting above 30% (31.6%, 113 goals/352 shots). In their five losses the Terps' shooting percentage is cut to 23.9% (38 goals/159 shots).

• Another standout statistic from Terp wins and losses is man-up conversion percentage. Maryland has converted 15 of 29 opportunities (.517) in its 10 wins, but has only cashed in on 10 of 22 chances (.455) in five defeats.

Home Cooking
• A lot is made in sports about the home-field advantage, and for the Maryland men's lacrosse team that advantage has held true since Coach Cottle arrived in College Park. Since 2002, the Terps are 34-12 (.739) when playing on the Maryland campus. At Chevy Chase Bank Field at Byrd Stadium Maryland is 23-9 (.719) under Cottle, while the Terps have gone 8-3 (.727) at the Field Hockey & Lacrosse Complex and 3-0 at Ludwig Field.

Home Vs. Away
• A lot is made in sports about the home-field advantage, but for the Maryland men's lacrosse team it has been better away from home than it has been in College Park. The Terps have played 10 games at home (7-3) and five on the road (3-2) and the numbers show an edge for the Terps when they are on familiar ground.

• Maryland is averaging 11.5 goals per game in its home games, which is two goals better than the 9.5 goals the Terps average on the road.

• Just like the offense, the Maryland defense has been more comfortable at home this season. As a team, the Terps are allowing opponents 6.9 goals per game at home, but that inflates by more than two goals to 9.3 gpg on the road.

• All-America candidate Michael Phipps, the team's leading scorer overall, is also the Terps' top scorer at home with 21 goals and 15 assists for 36 points. All-America candidate Max Ritz leads the squad in scoring on the road with 11 goals and six assists for 17 points. Phipps is second in road scoring, totaling 12 points on six goals and six assists.

Streaking Terps
• Fourteen games into the 2007 season and so far and two Terps have nothced at least one point in every game.

• Michael Phipps has scored at least one point in each of the 14 games so far and has a 16-game point scoring streak dating back to the NCAA Quarterfinals against Princeton last season.

• Max Ritz is currently on a 15-game multi-point streak dating back to last year's NCAA Semis vs. UMass. So far this season he has had at least two points in each of the Terps' 14 games. His streak of three-plus point games came to an end with a two-point effort in limited time vs. Mount St. Mary's Overall he has a 16-game point scoring streak going.

• Even though its not every game this season, sophomore Dan Groot has been impressive, scoring at least a point in 11 of 14 games this year. He's also tallied at least one point in eight of Maryland's last nine games and has nine games with multiple points.

Offensive Defenders
• Through 15 games Terrapin defensive players have been surprisingly offensive. So far in 2007, Maryland defenders have scored 17 goals and added 12 assists to account for 29 points. The Terps have totaled 260 points as a team, which means that more than 11 percent of Maryland's offense has come from a defensive player.

• Freshman long pole Brian Farrell leads the defense with five goals and three assists and is actually 10th on the squad in points. After going through a nine-game scoring drought, Farrell found the scoring touch again in the ACC semifinals against Virginia.

• Senior All-American Ray Megill scored his first career goal and added his first career assist in the win over UMBC. Since then he has scored twice and added an assist in the last four games.

• Other defensive players to score this season are Bryn Holmes (2-3=4), Chris Rhine (2-0=2), Spencer McAllister (1-0=1), Zach Hinton (1-0=1), Joe Cinosky (0-1=1) and Ryan Clarke (0-1=1).

• Injured short stick defensive middies Jimmy Borell and Jeff Reynolds have three goals and two assists between them.

Defense Exceeding Expectations
• On paper this year's Maryland defense shapes up as one of the nation's best. The unit features two preseason first team All-Americans in seniors Ray Megill and Steve Whittenberg and an honorable mention selection in junior Joe Cinosky. Add to that trio senior long pole Ryan Clarke a three-year starter, and there is no question that the tools are there for defensive coordinator Dave Slafkosky.

• During the last three seasons, Maryland held its opponents scoreless for long stretches of game time. The 2004 Terps kept opponents scoreless for stretches of 20 or more minutes eight times. In 2005 Maryland did it on seven occasions, and was just seconds away from keeping the high-powered Duke (1st meeting) and Navy offenses off the board for more than 20 minutes. Last season the Terrapin defense did it 10 times in its 17 games. So far the 2007 Terp "D" has 11 20+ minute scoring droughts to its credit. In addition to that stat, Maryland has held 14 of its 15 opponents below their season scoring averages.

• Versus Bellarmine in the season opener, the Knights took a 2-1 lead with 6:46 to go in the first quarter. Maryland's defense, lead by freshman goalie Brian Phipps, who totaled nine saves in his college debut in the 11-6 victory, didn't allow Bellarmine another goal until 11:47 in the third quarter, a total time of 24:59. Maryland's man-down unit was stellar on the afternoon, allowing only one goal (at 11:46 of the fourth quarter with Maryland holding a 9-5 lead) in six opportunities. The defense even got into the scoring column against the Knights as freshman long pole Brian Farrell scored twice in his college debut.

• The Catamounts of Vermont scored on three of their first four shots and were tied with the Terps at 3-3 after the first period. But the Maryland defense gave up just one goal in the next 36:09 and allowed the offense to go on an 8-1 run. The Terrapins held Vermont without a goal for 26 minutes, spanning the second, third and fourth quarters. Brian Phipps made 14 saves in the win. The defensive effort was even more impressive considering that All-American Ray Megill, Zach Hinton and Jimmy Borell did not play in the game.

• After a first half that saw Georgetown score six goals, the Maryland defense settled down and shutout the Hoyas in the third quarter, allowing the Terps to score five unanswered goals to tie the game at 6-6. During that 5-0 Terrapin scoring run, the Maryland defense held Georgetown scoreless for 25:14. Senior All-American Steve Whittenberg was magnificent, causing five Hoya turnovers and picking up three groundballs. Long pole All-America candidate Ryan Clarke had five groundballs to his credit and caused a pair of turnovers. Freshman short-stick Bryn Holmes, who saw his most significant playing time so far due to the loss of Jeff Reynolds for the season with a torn ACL, caused three turnovers and had one groundball.

• The Terps gave up 14 goals to the high-powered Duke offense, but responded with a tough, physical effort against Towson. Maryland's defense pitched a shutout for the first 29:57 of the game and allowed its offense to build a 4-0 lead. The starting defense of All-Americans Steve Whittenberg, Ray Megill and Joe Cinosky, along with long pole Ryan Clarke, held the Tiger starting attack and first midfield to just one goal, while compiling seven groundballs and three caused turnovers. But it wasn't just the upperclassmen that led the charge for the Terp "D." Freshmen Brian Phipps, Bryn Holmes and Brian Farrell all played key roles in Maryland's 8-7 win. Phipps was solid in the goal for the Terps, turning away a career-best 16 Towson shots. Holmes has a career-day of his own, setting personal bests with eight groundballs and five caused turnovers (both surpassing his season totals in each category prior to the Towson game) and setting the tone with numerous big hits. Not to be outdone was Farrell, as the long pole continued to be a force on the offensive end as well as the defensive side of the field. Farrell caused a turnover and picked up a pair of groundballs, but it was his goal with 3:44 left in the fourth quarter when the Terps were a man-down that proved to be the game-winner. You won't know it by looking at the boxscore, but Jimmy Borell was a huge factor in the victory as well. The senior gave up his body, throwing himself in front of a last-second Tiger shot to block the ball and lock-up the Terrapin win.

• The defense was at it again vs. Lafayette. The Leopards scored three goals in the first quarter and took a 3-1 lead into the start of the second, but the Maryland defense would not allow another goal for the next 21:01. The Terps went on a 9-0 run to take control of the game 10-3 before Lafayette scored is final goal at the 9:24 mark of the third quarter. Maryland shutout the Leopards in the second and fourth quarters and allowed just that one goal for the final 45:22 of the game. The Terps got tremendous defensive effort from everyone on the roster. Maryland picked up a season-best 51 groundballs and caused 24 turnovers, one shy of a season high. Steve Whittenberg and fellow All-American Ray Megill totaled five groundballs and five caused turnovers. Junior defender Ryne Adolph had his finest day as a Terp, picking up a career-high three groundballs and causing a turnover while playing three different defensive positions.Maryland's trio of long poles, senior All-America candidate Ryan Clarke, senior Sean Sullivan and freshman Brian Farrell, combined for seven groundballs and four caused turnovers. Other defensive standouts included freshman short-stick Bryn Holmes, who had three groundballs and a caused turnover, and sophomore defender Mike Griswold, who caused a career-high two turnovers.

• The UMBC game was another defensive showcase and not just on defense. Sure the Terps shutout the Retrievers in the third quarter and allowed only one goal during a 29-minute span that allowed the offense to go on a 9-1 run and all but wrap up the victory. But the real story for the Terp "D" vs. UMBC was All-American Ray Megill. The senior had played in 49 games for the Terrapins, but never scored a goal or picked up an assist. That all changed vs. the Retrievers as Megill pushed the ball in transition twice, scoring a goal the first time down the field and assisting on a Man Ritz goal on the second.

• Mount St. Mary's proved to be no problem for the Terrapin defense as the Terps held the Mount scoreless for 37:29 spanning the second, third and fourth quarters. Fourteen different Terps combined to force 19 of the Mount's 26 turnovers. Senior goalkeeper Harry Alford made his season debut after missing the first seven games recovering from off-season shoulder surgery. The defense got into the scoring act again as defensive midfielders Chris Rhine and Zach Hinton scored goals in the 18-3 victory.

• The defense came to play again against North Carolina. With the Terps holding a 2-0 lead, the Tar Heels tried to get back into the game following Nick Tintle's first quarter goal. But the Maryland defense held Carolina scoreless for the next 24 minutes to allow the offense to build an 8-1 lead. Freshman goalie Brian Phipps was spectacular in cage for the Terps, making 15 saves and starting several scoring opportunities with precision outlet passes. All-America Steve Whittenberg picked up four groundballs, while fellow All-American Ray Megill caused two turnovers.

• The goal scorers get the glory in thrilling wins, but the Terrapin defense was dominating in the 8-7 double-OT win at No. 7 Navy on April 6. The defense held the Mids scoreless for 20:23 to allow the offense to build some momentum and claw back from a 6-4 deficit. But the offensive spark came from a defensive player when senior All-American Ray Megill won his first career face-off attempt and raced down the field to score his second career goal. Megill would finish with a career-best seven groundballs, while combining with Steve Whittenberg, Joe Cinosky and Ryan Clarke to force 12 Navy turnovers.

• Despite losing in overtime, the defense was stellar in the 103rd meeting with Johns Hopkins. The Terps limited the Blue Jays' top five scorers to just two goals and combined to force 15 turnovers with All-American Steve Whittenberg and All-America candidate Ryan Clarke each causing three.

• The loss to No. 3 Virginia in the ACC semis wasn't without some tremendous defensive efforts. All-ACC honoree Ray Megill missed much of the game due to injury, but senior Sean Sullivan, junior Jacob Baxter and sophomore Mike Griswold were solid in his stead. The trio combined for four groundballs and three caused turnovers. Also of note was the first start of the season for two-time All-America goalie Harry Alford, who is fully recovered from off-season shoulder surgery.

Missing Time
• All athletic teams have injuries, but this season the Terps have had more than their fair share. From torn ligaments to broken bones to food poisoning and everything in between, Maryland men's lacrosse student-athletes have missed games this season as what seems like a record pace.

• Not counting the Terps' four preseason scrimmages and valuable practice time, no fewer than 17 Terps have missed a total of 103 games due to injury or illness: Ryne Adolph (2 games), Harry Alford (7), Paul Andrews (1), Jimmy Borell (5), Jason Carter (15), Chris Feifs (1), Dean Hart (2), Travis Holmes (7), Patrick Hutchinson (15), Ray Megill (1), Rob Morrison (8), Jeff Reynolds (13), Chris Rhine (2), Kevin Slafkosky (7), Scott Tompkins (4), Matt Trautman (12), Nick Ward (1).

Stepping In, Stepping Up • Usually a player's first season is spent getting used to new surroundings, understanding new systems, getting comfortable with new teammates and a lot more. Freshmen usually don't expect to see a lot of playing time, let alone playing time in big games against top-ranked opponents. Usually. But that's not the case for the Terps this season as several freshmen has become integral pieces of the Maryland puzzle. Injuries to key returners may have forced these players into the spotlight ahead of schedule, but they have responded better than could have ever been expected.

• Brian Phipps, the first true freshman in recent memory to start the season in goal, has been better than advertised. The No. 1 goalie prospect in the nation, according to Inside Lacrosse, was pressed into service ahead of schedule due to injuries to two-time All-American Harry Alford and back-up Jason Carter. All Phipps did as the starting goalie was lead Maryland to a 9-4 record in 13 games and stop nearly 60% of the shots he faced. For his efforts the Annapolis, Md., native was named the 2007 ACC Rookie of the Year, becoming just the sixth Terp in history to earn that honor.

• Brian Farrell was expected to see some playing time this season but not this much this soon. The long pole from Boy's Latin came to College Park with a reputation as a playmaker and he's lived up to that billing. Through 14 games Farrell is 10th on the team with seven points on five goals and two assists. Against Towson he picked up the first game-winning goal of his college career with a man-down goal in transition at the 3:44 mark of the fourth quarter.

• Bryn Holmes was penciled in as a face-off wing-man and facing-off some himself, but with Jimmy Borell missing the first two games due to a preseason injury and Jeff Reynolds suffering a torn ACL against Vermont he has had to be much more than that. Holmes has risen to the occasion and is now one of Maryland's top two short-stick defensive midfielders. He's tied for third on the team with 19 caused turnovers, many of which have been caused by the bone-jarring hits that have become Holmes' signature on the field, and is tops with 42 groundballs. He also picked up his first career goal at Virginia on March 31 and added his first collegiate assist on April 6 in the Terps' 8-7 win at Navy in double-OT.

• Adam Sear arrived at Maryland just before the spring semester and the Australian import has gone from just getting used to his surroundings to making an impact on the field. The 2006 Australian Lacrosse League All-Star started the season on the third midfield line, but when Travis Holmes was forced to the sidelines with an illness Sear was ready to take advantage of the opportunity. He showed a glimpse of what he can do with a goal in limited action against Duke, but Sear's true abilities came through against Towson with a goal and an assist. He tallied his first two-assist game in Maryland's 11-7 win over No. 19 UMBC and is now tied for sixth on the team with 11 points on six goals and five assists. He's proven to be a versatile players as well, earning his first career start on attack in Maryland's 14-10 win at Penn.

Phipps Named 2007 ACC Rookie Of The Year
• Brian Phipps was named the Atlantic Coast Conference Men's Lacrosse Rookie of the Year as selected by a vote of the league's four coaches. Phipps' selection marks the sixth time that a Maryland player has been named the ACC's top freshman. Phipps, a native of Annapolis, Md., entered the 2007 season as the third-string goalie on the Terrapin roster, but was pressed into service when Maryland's other two goalies went down with injuries.

• The nation's top goalie prospect, according to Inside Lacrosse, began his career with nine saves in the Terps' season opener and got even better from there. He turned in his finest performance of the season on March 10 at Towson. Phipps made a career-best 16 saves and helped the defense hold the Tigers scoreless for a stretch of 29:57 in the 8-7 Maryland win.

• Phipps has also come up big in some of the Terps' biggest games of the season. He made 15 saves in a 14-8 win over then-No. 11 North Carolina. Phipps stopped 13 shots in his return to Annapolis on April 6, helping Maryland pull out an 8-7 win in double-overtime at then-No. 7 Navy.

2007 Player of the Year: Matt Danowski, Duke

2007 Freshman of the Year: Brian Phipps, Maryland

2007 Coach of the Year: John Danowski, Duke

Megill and Whittenberg Earn All-ACC Honors
• Maryland placed a pair of players, senior All-America defenders Ray Megill and Steve Whittenberg, on the 2007 All-ACC team. Megill and Whittenberg made the team for the second-straight season. The only other repeat selection from the 2006 squad was Virginia's Ben Rubeor.

2007 All-ACC Team
Casey Carroll, Defense, Duke
Matt Danowski, Attack, Duke
Dan Glading, Attack, Virginia
Zack Greer, Attack, Duke
Tim Kaiser, Defense, North Carolina
Ray Megill, Defense, Maryland
Nick O'Hara, Long Pole, Duke
Ben Rubeor, Attack, Virginia
Ricky Smith, Defense, Virginia
Kip Turner, Goalie, Virginia
Steve Whittenberg, Defense, Maryland

Megill Among Tewaaraton Trophy Nominees
• Senior defender Ray Megill was among 17 players on the 2007 Tewaaraton Trophy nominee list announced by the Tewaaraton Award Foundation on April 18. The 17 nominees will be trimmed to five finalists for the award, which will be presented on May 30.

• Megill, a preseason first team All-American, is one of the top defenders in the nation. The The 6-foot-1, 200-pound, Clark, N.J., native is among the team leaders in groundballs and caused turnovers and has become a force in transition for the Terps, scoring two goals and adding an assist.

• A two-time All-American, Megill had the signature game of his career in Maryland's 8-7 win at Navy in double-overtime on April 6. Against the Midshipmen, Megill picked up a career-best seven groundballs, caused three turnovers, won his first-ever face-off attempt and scored a goal. He was also the lead defender on Navy attackman Nick Mirabito, who had his 40-game scoring streak snapped against the Terps.

• Two other Maryland defenders, senior Steve Whittenberg and junior Joe Cinosky, were on the preseason "Watch List" but were not among the 17 to make the semifinalist list.

• The Tewaaraton Trophy is awarded each year to the top male and female varsity lacrosse player, as chosen by the selection committee. The seventh annual award will be given at a banquet on Wednesday, May 30.

A Family Affair
• Many school's refer to their sports programs as families, but under Coach Cottle the Maryland men's lacrosse program has really become a family affair. Since arriving in College Park in 2002, Cottle has had seven sets of brothers don the red and black together for at least one season.

Harry & Thomas Alford: 2004-05-06-07
Brendan & Ian Healy: 2003-04-05
Bryn & Travis Holmes: 2007
Dan & Mike LaMonica: 2002
Chris & Willy Passavia: 2002-03
Brian & Michael Phipps: 2007
Max & Xander Ritz: 2005-06

Earlier Than Ever
• Maryland's 11-6 win over Bellarmine on February 17 marked the earliest the Terps have opened a season in their 82-year history. The previous earliest start came on February 21, 1998 - an 18-5 win over Villanova.

Terps' 82nd Season Of Lacrosse
• The Terps boast an all-time record of 683-224-4 (.752), dating back to the first varsity team in 1924 (a team was not fielded in 1944 and 1945 due to World War II). Maryland has finished every one of its previous 81 seasons with a .500 or better record, including last season when the Terps went 12-5. The program reached the 650-win milestone with a 16-12 win over Army in the first round of the 2004 NCAA tournament at Byrd Stadium.

• Since 2000, Maryland is 90-34 for a .726 win percentage. In the decade of the 1990s, Maryland recorded its most wins in any decade with a 95-47 record. The .669 winning percentage matched Maryland's win percentage of the 1980s when the Terps went 83-41 and also compiled a .669 win percentage.

Game No. 900 - March 2 Vs. Duke
• The Maryland men's lacrosse program reached the 900-game milestone on Friday, March 2 when the Terps hosted Duke at Chevy Chase Bank Field at Byrd Stadium.

Maryland In Season Openers
• Maryland has a 78-3-1 (.957) lifetime record in season openers dating back to the 1924 season. The Terps have won their last 14 openers and 22 of the last 23, with the only loss coming to Duke in 1993, when they fell 9-5 on March 6.

• After losing their 1925 opener to Yale, 5-3, the Terps went on to win 40 consecutive season openers from 1926 through 1967. The streak was broken when Maryland tied Princeton, 6-6, in the 1968 opener. Following the deadlock, Maryland went on to win its next 14 openers, giving the Terps a 54-0-1 record over a 57-year span (Maryland did not field a team in 1944 and 1945 due to World War II.)

14 Straight In Season Openers
• Following their 11-6 win over Bellarmine last Saturday, the Terps have now won 14 straight season openers. Five of those wins came against Villanova (1994-98) and the last nine over Denver, Mount St. Mary's, Air Force, Hobart, Duke, Georgetown (three times) and Bellarmine. Over the 14-year stretch, Maryland outscored its foes 193-72 (an average score of 13.8-5.1) in those games.

• The Terps have not allowed more than seven goals to any opponent in a season opener over the last 14 years. Maryland has not allowed an opponent to score 10 or more goals in a season opener since Syracuse beat the Terps, 16-13 on March 9, 1983.

2007 Captains: Borell, Feifs, Holmes, Megill
• Four players have been named team captains for the 2007 season. The quartet, which was voted on by the team during the preseason, consists of seniors Ray Megill.

Media Information
• 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 Patrick Fischer with "Men's Lacrosse E-Mail" as the subject and you will receive every update.

• Terps on the Web: For up-to-date game stories, statistics, schedules and results, and other Maryland athletic department information, please log-on to www.umterps.com on the Internet.

• GameTracker: Follow Terps games live in 2007 on your computer with GameTracker. Links for all games that will be available can be found at www.umterps.com.