PHOTO CREDIT: IAN NEADLE
Last weekend was an epic display of collegiate lacrosse at the highest of levels. Maryland went back and forth all day with Cornell, coming 2.6 seconds close to elimination before they secured their passage to the next round. #9 Bryant against #4 Syracuse equivalently played a game of consistent exchanges and phenomenal lacrosse abilities. Bryant’s season came 4.1 seconds close to ending, but Gunnar Waldt saved the day with an epic save against a high-to-low shot off a fast break.
Now, the two teams will travel comparable distances from opposite directions to face off for a trip to Baltimore’s NCAA Final Four. Maryland representing their home region if they continue, Bryant continuing to awe and astound the lacrosse community.
MARYLAND
The Terps travel north up I-95 and over NYC to Hempstead, NY with a .580 SOG percentage. They are five percent more successful in man-up opportunities than opponents, and nearly twice as powerful in recovering ground balls.
Face offs have grown more consistent throughout the season. As of now, they hold a win-loss percentage of .643 which is quite impressive. Charlie Raffa has been a powerhouse at draws boasting a success rate of 67.6%.
Maryland has outscored their opponents by over 65 goals and have 1.5 times the shots overall and on goal.
Mike Chanenchuk, who coincidentally scored the first and final goals for the Terps against Cornell last weekend, leads the team with 48 points (30 goals, 18 assists). Two of those goals were his only ones against the Big Red.
He is followed by Matt Rambo and Connor Cannizzaro who each have 35 and 28 points, respectively. Against Cornell, Rambo led the team on the day with three goals, and Cannizzaro also had 2.
Though Kyle Bernlohr has a save percentage of .800, Niko Amato started against Cornell and played all sixty minutes. He has a reasonable percentage of .574, and saved eight goals, only allowing seven.
BRYANT
The Bulldogs will travel west and south across I-84 and down I-95 to arrive at Hofstra University with a respectable face off percentage at .698 and a comparable SOG percentage of 58.8%.
Kevin Massa has carried the Bulldogs’ draws with a W-L rate of 296-418. That may have been enough to fight against Syracuse who has struggled with draws all season, but it outperforms the Terps by 6.5%.
Shane Morrell leads the Bulldogs with 59 points on the season, and is closely followed by teammate Tucker James with 50. Colin Dunster and Dan Sipperly and Alex Zomerfeld have all been high quality contributors, as well.
Gunnar Waldt has been a beast all season in the cage for Bryant. He has truly carried the strength, communication and motivation of the defense, and boasts a save percentage of 61%. He’s also played over 1,000 minutes this season for the team!
WHAT TO WATCH
Bryant plays a fast game which is how they competed with the Orange. I truly think the intensity they bring will be tough to match.
Maryland is a smart team that can create numerous opportunities. Agile, powerful players will attempt to work around Bulldogs while they body up in return. Both teams. have scored comparably throughout the season and I expect another close match between the two.
PREDICTION
Maryland 13
Bryant 11
