No. 2 Maryland men’s lacrosse dominates No. 20 Richmond, 15-4, in season opener

With beneath 5 minutes remaining within the third quarter, No. 2 Maryland males’s lacrosse held a snug 10-1 lead over No. 20 Richmond. Because the Spiders moved the ball across the offensive zone, Maryland closed each potential scoring avenue, forcing Richmond into taking one other troublesome shot.

Graduate long-stick midfielder John Geppert then stripped Richmond midfielder Henry Alpaugh and sprinted down the sphere. After crossing the 30-yard line, Geppert dumped the ball off to junior attackman Owen Murphy, who immediately flung it on the web.

The shot blew previous Richmond goalie Zach Vigue and into the online for Murphy’s fourth and last aim of the sport.

The rating gave Maryland a double-digit lead — which they’d maintain onto for the remainder of the sport — and embodied the Terps’ efficiency: nice protection resulting in even higher offensive alternatives.

Maryland’s 15-4 win over Richmond on Saturday marked its thirtieth consecutive season-opening win.

“Excited to get the season began and to get it with a win is superior in opposition to a very good staff in Richmond,” head coach John Tillman mentioned. “These guys have labored onerous since August and [it’s] simply nice to see lots of new faces concerned and getting a great, staff win.”

The Terps acquired off to a scorching-hot begin, scoring three unanswered targets within the first 5 minutes. Every have been scored by a distinct participant, as Geppert acquired issues began with a breakaway aim lower than two minutes into the sport.

Richmond was discombobulated on the offensive finish to start the quarter, however freshman midfielder Joe Sheridan smoothed issues over when he completed by means of contact and scored the Spiders’ first aim.

Richmond maintained management of possession by means of the following eight minutes however couldn’t break by means of Maryland’s protection. Senior goalie Logan McNaney stopped every thing the Spiders threw at him, flexing towards Maryland’s sideline after his fifth save of the quarter.

The Terps lastly regained possession with 1:40 remaining within the first quarter and made probably the most of it. Freshman attackman Braden Erksa roped across the web and tried a move to attackman Daniel Kelly. The ball was a bit too excessive for Kelly’s attain, however Murphy was in good possession to scoop it up and finish the quarter with a bang.

Now holding a three-goal cushion, Maryland’s attackers went to work. Senior attackman Daniel Maltz scored the primary aim of the second quarter along with his again towards the online, after which Erksa scored his second aim of the half wherein he went one-on-one in opposition to Richmond midfielder Joe Gooley.

Maryland scored two extra targets earlier than the interval ended as its protection continued to stifle the Spiders. Richmond tried 22 photographs within the first half — six greater than Maryland — with McNaney saving 9 of them.

The Terps didn’t let up in second half, scoring 5 targets within the third quarter and two within the fourth.

Richmond tacked on three targets within the fourth, however it was too little, too late for the Spiders, who couldn’t get issues going all day, solely changing on 4 of their 42 shot makes an attempt.

Three issues to know

1. Maryland’s protection was unbreakable. The Terps’ largest energy heading into the 2023 season was their protection, and it confirmed. Maryland returned three key defensive starters from final yr in McNaney, graduate defenseman Brett Makar and junior defenseman Ajax Zappitello, who led the protection to a dominant efficiency. Richmond ranked thirteenth within the nation in targets per sport (14.00) in 2022, however was held to only 4 on Saturday.

“We’ve all form of purchased in to having a team-oriented protection,” McNaney mentioned. “I’ve lots of belief in these guys in entrance of me and so they have belief in me too.”

2. Owen Murphy took over. With the departure of a number of offensive stars, Murphy acquired his first begin as a Terp and made probably the most of it. The junior carved up Richmond’s protection, scoring a game-high 4 targets on 9 shot makes an attempt. If Murphy can proceed his phenomenal play all through the remainder of the season, he could also be carrying the coveted No. 1 jersey in 2024.

“Murph simply form of has a knack for scoring and form of getting in good spots,” Tillman mentioned. “And I assumed his teammates did a great job of discovering him too.”

3. Maryland continues to be Maryland. After shedding six of its 10 starters from the 2022 nationwide championship staff, query marks loomed over Maryland. That a lot change is sufficient to derail any program, nevertheless, Tillman has proved time and time once more that you may by no means rely out the Terps. Maryland seemed as dominant as ever in opposition to Richmond, and whereas it was solely the primary sport of the season, Saturday’s win proved that the Terps nonetheless belong among the many nation’s greatest.

“There’s been lots of change since August, you recognize, half our workers is gone. Lots of guys which have been right here for some time are gone,” Tillman mentioned. “However these guys [are a] fairly resilient group [and] didn’t flinch.”