Terps absorb second straight loss
Maryland rallies from down four to send game to OT before Wildcats score late
COLLEGE PARK — The Maryland men’s lacrosse team’s chance to atone for its first loss of the season took a little longer than anticipated, and the wait will go on for at least another week.
The No. 4 Terps rallied from a four-goal deficit midway through the fourth quarter to go to overtime, but junior attackman Danny Seibel’s goal with 33 seconds left in the extra session capped a 13-12 decision for unranked Villanova before an announced 1,931 at Maryland Stadium on Saturday.
After a 5-4 loss at No. 2 Notre Dame on March 4, Maryland had hoped to get back on the winning track, but weather conditions postponed its game at No. 8 Albany on March 11. So a game against a Wildcats team that had dropped four of six games this season was the right remedy, right?
Wrong. Instead of Maryland improving to 10-0 against Villanova (3-4), the Terps (4-2) have now lost back-to-back contests.
“Heck of a ballgame,” Maryland coach John Tillman said. “Obviously, a game that could have gone either way. We dug ourselves a hole, but a lot of that had to do with Villanova coming out and playing fast.”
Seibel’s fourth goal was somewhat unexpected. First, attackman Jake Froccaro attempted a dodge down the right alley, but defenseman Curtis Corley was joined by senior short-stick defensive midfielder Isaiah Davis-Allen to influence Froccaro to fade away from the net.
But Froccaro still managed to fling a centering pass to Seibel, who caught the ball with his back to the cage and junior short-stick defensive midfielder Adam DiMillo seemingly draped on his back. Seibel had the presence of mind to pivot to his left and whip the ball past junior goalkeeper Dan Morris and set off a raucous celebration.
Even Wildcats coach Michael Corrado seemed surprised by the turn of events.
“From my angle, yeah, it didn’t look like it was going to end well,” he said with a wry smile. “But we’ll take it. We’re not giving it back.”
Matt Rambo paced Maryland with four goals, and Tim Rotanz added three. Jon Garino Jr. won 15 of 18 faceoffsand scooped up a game-high 13 ground balls. Villanova Maryland Goals: V—Seibel 4, Cuccinello 3, Ja. Froccaro 3, Curran 2, Kirst; M—Rambo 4, Rotanz 3, Kelly 2, Bernhardt, Chisolm, Maltz. Assists: V—Comizio 3, Ja. Froccaro 2, Curran, Jo. Frocarro, Nugent; M—Bernhardt, Kelly. Saves: V—Testa 2, Willis 5; M—Morris 9.