May 20, 2008
COLLEGE PARK, Md. -
The ending wasn't what anyone had in mind, but the 2008 season will go down as a memorable one for the University of Maryland men's lacrosse program.
When the season began no one was sure what to expect from the Terps, who were thought to be too young to be a serious contender. That thought went out the window very quickly.
The 2008 Terps burst onto the scene with a stunning upset of then-No. 4 Georgetown on the road, announcing to the nation that Maryland was going to be a team to be reckoned with.
The early season proved to be on-the-job training for the youthful Terps. Maryland went 5-2 in its first seven outings before beginning its annual running of the gauntlet - a four-week stretch with games against North Carolina, Virginia, Navy and Johns Hopkins (all NCAA Tournament teams).
Maryland started the grueling stretch with a decisive 13-8 win over the Tar Heels in Chapel Hill, N.C. But as good as that game was it was only a warm-up for the Terps. A week later in College Park, Maryland throttled the Cavaliers, who were ranked No. 1 in the nation at the time, 13-7, in front of a national television audience tuning in on ESPN2 - only the second regular-season game ever broadcast on ESPN2.
Tough losses to the Midshipmen and the Blue Jays hardened the Terps and helped prepare them for an NCAA Tournament run. That run started with a 16-10 win over Denver in the first round, but came to a climactic end in an 8-7 overtime-loss to Virginia in the quarterfinals.
The 2008 Maryland men's lacrosse team showed promise for the future, but also honored its senior class with its heart and dedication. Seniors Joe Cinosky and Max Ritz closed out brilliant careers on the defensive and offensive ends, respectively.
Cinosky, who was the undisputed leader of a defense that allowed less than eight goals per game, played in more games under Coach Cottle than any other Terp. He accumulated 115 groundballs and 76 caused turnovers in his All-America career.
Ritz, an underappreciated player throughout his four years, finished his career as the Terps' second-leading scorer since Coach Cottle arrived in 2002 with 111 points on 66 goals and 45 assists. The only player to total more points than Ritz since 2002 is Joe Walters - Maryland's all-time leader in points and goals.
Of course, the story of 2008 could not be told without mentioning the sensational class of freshmen that helped lead the Terps throughout the year. The trio of attackmen - Grant Catalino (29-13=42), Travis Reed (20-11=31) and Ryan Young (9-18=27) - led the team in scoring. Defenders Brett and Max Schmidt (no relation) grew as the season wore on and showed promise for the future. Midfielder Tony Mendes and attackman Brett Weiss also had prominent roles for the Terps.
Not to be outdone, the sophomore class also had its share of memorable performances. Long-pole Brian Farrell continued to redefine the position and finished the year with eight goals, three assists, 40 groundballs and 23 caused turnovers. Short-stick defensive middie Bryn Holmes was everywhere for the Terps, leading the team with 52 groundballs, while winning 56 percent of his face-offs.
Juniors proved to be the heart and soul of the Maryland midfields with Jeff Reynolds emerging as an offensive force with 19 goals. All-American Dan Groot (12-10=22) and Jeremy Sieverts (9-10=19) finished the season on the first line along with Reynolds, giving Maryland a glimpse of things to come in 2009.
The goalies were a major story in 2008 with sophomore Brian Phipps and junior Jason Carter splitting time in cage - rotating starts and halves throughout the season. Skeptics said it couldn't be done, but Phipps and Carter proved them wrong as the duo not only succeeded on the field, but also remained each other's most ardent supporter from the sidelines. Together the two combined to stop nearly 60 percent of the shots they faced.
The 2008 Terrapin men's lacrosse team's legacy will not be measured by the team's record or individual accomplishments, but it will be found in the foundation laid for the future.
