Providence, Rhode Island – B1G Ten will have a representative in the Final Four as Maryland was able to defeat the Syracuse Orange by a score of 13-7. With the win, Maryland moved onto Championship Weekend in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Maryland is hoping to bring their first title back to College Park since 1975.
After both teams traded possessions to open the contest, Syracuse would strike first. Attackman Tim Barber dodged from behind the goal, beating his defender and Maryland goalie Kyle Bernlohr for an early lead. Maryland would answer with attackman Matt Rambo’s tally, his thirty-sixth of the season.
Maryland would take their first lead at 7:19 when junior Colin Heacock found senior UMBC transfer Pat Young open. After a Brandon Mullins foul had expired, Bryan Cole found Connor Kelly to push Maryland’s lead to two goals. Maryland would win the following faceoff and garner a three goal lead when Tim Rotanz found Syracuse transfer Dylan Maltz alone in front.
Bernlohr and Maryland’s defense were able to withstand Syracuse’s early offensive chances after Ben Williams won three of the first four faceoffs. Ball rotation led to early successful for Maryland in offense, beating Syracuse goalie Evan Molloy with shots in close. At the end of the 1st, Maryland led Syracuse 4-1.
Maryland opened the second quarter pushing the lead to four-goals after Syracuse won the opening draw. Maltz scored his second of the game, assisted by Rambo. Syracuse would end their drought with 9:53 left before halftime. Derek DeJoe’s shot would hit the crossbar, Syracuse third to do so. On the ride, a diving check by Nick Mariano led to an errant pass that ended in Barber’s stick, who then finished the play.
Dylan Maltz would complete his hat trick with 6:06 left in the quarter, beating the Syracuse zone defense. Syracuse would answer with 2:00 remaining as Sergio Salcido found freshman Nate Solomon in front of the goal. Syracuse was winning faceoffs for a majority of the second quarter, but Bernlohr was responsible for keeping Maryland ahead.
Matt Rambo would get Maryland to seven, diving under his defensive pressure. Maryland’s offense was able to find the seams in the Syracuse defense with relative ease. Syracuse would call a timeout with fifty seconds remaining, but unable to get one last score to close the half. Maryland would enter the half with a four-goal advantage at 7-3.
Syracuse had two chances to open the second half with goals, but both times Bernlohr was up to the task. Maryland would increase their lead to five goals when Pat Young scored at 10:14 left in the third quarter. On their second extra-man opportunity, Syracuse would capitalize. Matt Lane would score off a Kevin Donahue assist, his eighth goal of the season.
Syracuse would get their second straight goal as freshman Devin Shewell would score off a rebound. This was the first time Shewell had entered the game. Maryland would go on the man-advantage after a Solomon penalty and Rambo would answer. The Terps would led 9-5 with 6:01 left in the quarter.
Syracuse would creep closer when Sergio Salcido scored his twentieth goal of the season, beating Bernlohr low, across his body. Syracuse goalie Molloy would have to come up with a save in the waning seconds to keep the deficit to three heading into the fourth quarter, 9-6.
Maryland would get to 10 goals in the contest when Young would complete his hat trick two minutes into the fourth. Barber would find Solomon for a Syracuse answer just over 30 seconds later, his second of the game, but Maryland would answer yet again when Matt Rambo scored his fourth.
The lead would again push to five goals when Connor Kelly scored on an extra-man opportunity. Turnovers and saves continually pushed the Syracuse comeback off track and Maryland had a calmness about their play deep into the fourth quarter. With 5:45, Maryland would hold the advantage at 12-7 in their favor.
With 4:15 left in the contest, Young would have his career high as a Terp increase to four goals. Maryland was able to take extended time off the clock after Young’s goal. Syracuse was pressuring, but Maryland able withstand the pressure.
The Orange played a young attack for a large part of the second half, which is promising for next year as they lose veteran leader Dylan Donahue. On the day, the Orange were led by senior Tim Barber and Nate Solomon’s two goals each.
Maryland was led by the four goal days by both Matt Rambo and Pat Young. Kyle Bernlohr was the difference in the contest, thwarting any attempt Syracuse had at making a run. Ben Williams allowed Syracuse continued possession, but saves and turnovers in the end made the difference in the contest.
When asked about the legacy that Donahue and Mullins left on the program at Syracuse, Desko responded that “these are the two hardest workers out there. They showed that you cannot just show up to practice. They displayed what it took on and off the field.”
