Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 5/29/17
From Press Release and Staff Report
With many Philly grads playing key roles, the Maryland men’s lacrosse team defeated Ohio State 9-6 to capture the 2017 Division I Men’s Lacrosse Championship at Gilette Stadium Monday.
Philly standouts! All-tournament pick Matt Rambo (left, La Salle College High) and face-off hero Jon Garino (Episcopal Academy), who played together for the Duke’s Lacrosse Club, helped lead Maryland to its first National championship since 1975 (Photos by Rene Schleicher)
Senior face-off specialist Jon Garino (Episcopal Academy) won 10 of 14 face-offs and was named Capital One Player of the Game in a brilliant performance against Ohio State ace Jake Withers. Garino finished the tournament having won 27 of 38 draws vs. the 1st, 2md and 3rd team face-off All-Americans.
Senior Matt Rambo (La Salle), who is a favorite to win the Tewaaraton Award, had a goal and an assist and two groundballs and was named to the All-Tournament team. Rambo and Garino played for the Duke’s Lacrosse Club.
On defense, Curtis Corley (Shawnee-NJ) had two groundballs and a caused turnover while Bryce Young (St. Augustine Prep-NJ) added two groundballs.
For Ohio State, Freddy Freibott (Salesianum School) had three groundballs. Freibott also played for Duke’s LC as well as Team Mn Up.
Junior Tim Rotanz scored three goals to pace the Terps offense, while senior defender Tim Muller was named the Championship’s Most Outstanding Player.
Maryland had lost in the title game the last nine times it reached the championship game since winning it in 1975.
Jon Garino won 10 of 14 face offs
“We knew we were going to have to play our best game to have a chance to win, so I want to tip my hat to Ohio State,” said Maryland coach John Tillman. “I’m obviously very proud of our team. I’m happy for our state, our school, our students and our alums. Especially the alums, having waited so long. I think that was a big thing that motivated us was to try to bring a championship back for them, but also living in the moment, knowing that this was their time. I couldn’t be happier for our guys.”
Maryland held the Buckeye attack at bay for most of the afternoon, limiting OSU to just 25 shots while junior goalie Dan Morris made 11 saves. The Terps would score three goals in the fourth quarter to seal the three-goal victory, as Maryland captured its 12th all-time National Title and first since 1975.
Maryland took a 5-2 lead into the locker room, thanks in part to a pair of goals from junior Adam DiMillo who entered Monday’s game with just three goals on the year.
Rotanz, Maltz and Kelly all scored as well to help the Terps build up a three-goal advantage. Maryland’s defense came up with several big stops to thwart the Buckeye’s offense, which included five first half saves for Morris.
In addition to Rambo, Muller, Rotanz, Connor Kelly, Dylan Maltz and goalie Dan Morris (11 saves) were named to the all-tournament team.
Ohio State defenseman Freddy Freibott (Salesianum School) defends Maryland’s Matt Rambo (La Salle). They played together on the Duke’s LC; Freibott also played for Team Man Up
Maryland 9, Ohio State 6, – The Short Version
The Buckeyes scored first in a back-and-forth first 15 minutes, but Maryland answered with the final two tallies of the frame to take a 3-2 lead after the first quarter. The Terps then scored twice in the first six minutes of the second quarter to push the advantage to 5-2 at the half. After each team found the back of the net once in the third quarter, Maryland scored the first two goals of the fourth to make it an 8-3 game. Three-straight Buckeye goals cut the Terps’ advantage to 8-6 before an insurance tally in the final minute capped the scoring at 9-6.
Carey made 13 saves in the Buckeye cage, tallying double-digit save in every NCAA game this season, while Leclaire scored and added an assist. Sophomore Logan Maccani also had four groundballs and a goal.
In the First Quarter
Ohio State opened the scoring in a back-and-forth first quarter when Shanks tallied his 15th of the year at the 11:02 mark. Maryland’s Tim Rotanz answered at 5:53 but the Buckeyes’ Colin Chell put Ohio State ahead once again at 5:08. However, an Adam DiMillo goal at the 3:03 mark tied the game at 2-2 before Connor Kelly gave the Terrapins the 3-2 advantage with 59 seconds remaining in the quarter. Withers won five of six faceoffs over the first 15 minutes of play.
Maryland defenseman Curtis Corley (Sjawnee) had two groundballs and a caused turnover
In the Second Quarter
Maryland’s Dylan Maltz opened the second quarter with a goal at the 12:37 mark and DiMillo scored again at 9:43 to push the lead to 5-2, where it would remain at the half. The Terrapins held an 11-4 lead in shots in the second quarter, with Carey making three saves.
In the Third Quarter
Maccani cut into the Maryland lead with a goal at the 10:53 mark of the third quarter to make it a 5-3 contest. Rotanz answered back at 5:30 for the Terps with his second goal of the game to make it 6-3 through three quarters of play. Carey made five more saves in the third quarter as Maryland held a 12-5 advantage in shots.
In the Fourth Quarter
Maltz then tacked on his second of the game to make it 7-3 with 13:18 left to play before Matt Rambo made it an 8-3 contest at the 10:36 mark. Withers won the ensuing faceoff and found the back of the net to make it 8-4 at 10:24 and Leclaire scored his 49th goal of the year to cut the lead to 8-5 with 5:01 remaining. Pearson narrowed the advantage to 8-6 at the 2:25 mark but the Buckeyes would not be able to close the gap any further as Rotanz third of the game, an empty-net goal with 59 seconds remaining, sealed the win for the Terps.
Shots and Saves
The Buckeyes were outshot, 41-25, in the game. Carey had 13 saves, the eighth time in the last nine games he had double-digit stops, with nine in the second half vs. the Terps. He ends the season with an 8.32 goals-against average and .547 save percentage, in the Top 12 nationally.