From the jump in warmups, Cuse was hyped to say the least. A lot of energy from the men in orange warming up. Who might have the edge playing in the cold and rain? We all expected a great game from both teams, and it did not disappoint.
As expected, both teams’ defenses dictated play the entire first half. Cuse coming in only giving up 17 goals in 3 games, you knew their defense was stout. Maryland came in giving up only seven goals a game, each to Richmond and Loyola. Both offenses settled for long offensive sets taking a lot of time, dictated by physical lockdown man defensive play. Cuse started off the scoring nine minutes in with an around the world goal by Trey Deere. The pace of play picked up with three minutes left in the quarter trading goals, leaving the score knotted at 2-2 to end the first quarter.
Four minutes into the second quarter, AJ Larkin gave the Terps a juice long pole goal grabbing a ground ball near mid-field and streaking down the offensive end finishing with a jump shot bouncer. Both teams seemed content killing most of the shot clock every time down the field. Each team traded goals back and forth until Joey Spallina finished the half with his only two goals of the game giving Cuse a narrow one goal lead 5-4.
Terps out scored Cuse four goals to one in the third quarter off two strong finishes by Eric Spanos. Spanos scored both goals a minute apart with under two minutes left in the third. Cuse’s only score of the third was an unassisted goal by Owen Hiltz with 17 seconds left. Terps turned up the offensive fire power with quick and precise ball movement. Terps up 8-6.
Terps continued to move the ball well dictating pace of play and gaining control in the fourth quarter. Three goals by the Terps, two from Bryce Ford and one from Daniel Kelly, sealed the game. Cuse’s only second goal of the half came off a man up finish by Owen Hiltz with a dart from Joey Spallina for the assist.
Lastly, it cannot go unsaid that Terps goalie Logan McNaney absolutely put on a show today saving 12 shots and allowing just 7 goals.
-Written by Chuck Frey