UAlbany among elite 8 still playing
By John Kekis ALBANY, N.Y. » Scott Marr again is one step from accomplishing an elusive goal as head lacrosse coach at the University at Albany — taking the Great Danes to the Final Four of the NCAA Tournament.
Will the fourth time be the charm?
“We have another opportunity. This group just feels good. It feels like we can make that next step,” Marr said. “It would be unbelievable if we could accomplish it.”
The quarterfinals get underway Saturday at Hempstead on New York’s Long Island, with third-seeded Ohio State (14-4) against unseeded Duke (13-4) and fourth seed Notre Dame (9-5) against No. 5 Denver (12-3).
On Sunday, in Newark, Delaware, eighth-seeded Albany (15-2), which knocked off defending national champion North Carolina 15-12 in the first round, meets top-seeded Maryland (13-3), and unseeded Towson (11-4) plays secondseeded Syracuse (13-2).
Judging by Marr’s reaction when asked about returning to his coaching roots for the big game, it’s going to be a weekend like no other for the affable coach. His first job out of college was as an assistant at the University of Delaware, it’s where he met his wife Traci, and he served as an assistant at Maryland for six years.
Delaware coach Bob Shillinglaw, the guy who hired Marr 25 years ago, is serving as host for the Great Danes.
“I think about it all the time,” Marr said. “I’m going back to where I first started. It’ll definitely be emotional for me to take the field.”
While only four of Albany’s victories have come against teams with winning records, the America East Conference champions have a huge asset in freshman faceoff specialist TD Ierlan, and his skill was on full display against the Tar Heels.
Ierlan, who’s won 72.5 percent of his draws to rank second nationally, won all 10 faceoffs against senior Stephen Kelly in the first quarter as Albany raced to a stunning 14-3 halftime lead in a steady rain, then withstood a rousing secondhalf rally by the Tar Heels.
The Terps beat the Great Danes 12-11 in mid-April at Albany’s Casey Stadium. After falling behind 3-0, Maryland turned up the pressure in the final two minutes in each of the first three quarters, netting six goals to get back in it.
“Those are back-breakers,” Marr said.
Other things to know about the NCAA Tournament quarterfinals: and last week upset No. 7 Penn State 12-8, but since 1973 the Tigers have lost nine straight times to Syracuse.