Maryland Lacrosse: Terps lose heartbreaker in national title game

41 years and counting for the Maryland lacrosse team.

The Terrapins dropped an absolute heartbreaker on Memorial Day as they fell 14-13 at the hands of North Carolina in overtime of the National Championship Game. It marks the second consecutive season that Maryland lost in the national title game.

Maryland fell 10-5 against Denver in the 2015 title game.

Attackman Matt Rambo led the way with three goals and three assists for the Terps. Midfielder Henry West also had a six-point afternoon with two goals and a career-high four assists.

The Terps were in the driver’s seat with 7:49 remaining in the game.

Rambo dodged his way away from defenseman Jack Rowlett and dropped a beautiful pass to Kelly for the slam dunk goal to make it 13-11.

With 3:53 left, attackman Luke Goldstock was able to get open in the slot and bury his fourth goal of the afternoon to make it a one-goal game.

Just 31 seconds later, midfielder Patrick Kelly scored his only goal of the game to tie it up at 13.

After a chaotic final minute, Maryland started off overtime on a man-up advantage after a penalty on Goldstock in the final seconds of regulation.

The Terps were very patient as they’ve been all season and Kelly got off a low shot that was on goal with 3:26 left, but goalie Brian Balkam made the save and didn’t allow the rebound.

With 1:39 to go, the Tar Heels found themselves on a man-up advantage after Mike McCarney shoved Goldstock on a scrum after a save by goalie Bernlohr. On the ensuing possession, attackman Chris Cloutier provided the dagger that sent Maryland fans into a state of sorrow.

Maryland’s 16-game winning streak came to an end and several seniors had played their final collegiate game.

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North Carolina gained the upper hand early as they excelled in the face-off circle.

The Tar Heels jumped out to an early 4-0 lead. Attackman Brian Cannon tallied a pair of goals while Cloutier and Goldstock each added a goal for North Carolina.

However, as they’ve done many times this season, Maryland responded with a run of their own.

After the Tar Heels won the first three face-offs of the game, Austin Henningsen was able to win his first draw and scoop up the ground ball and head off in transition. Henningsen made his way right down Broadway before being stripped by North Carolina defenders and Balkam got possession.

Balkam attempted to send an outlet pass downfield, but attackman Dylan Maltz caught the ball in his stick and preceded to beat Balkam for the easy goal.

Maltz, Rambo, and West added one goal apiece to help the Terps tie the game at four with 5:06 left in the first quarter.

After North Carolina answered Maryland’s run with a pair of goals, West found a cutting Kelly in front of the slam dunk goal to cut the deficit to 6-5.

Rambo made his impact felt as a passer once again as he found Kelly to the right of Balkam for the scorching shot. The goal was Kelly’s second of the game and his fifth goal of the season against North Carolina.

In the March 26 meeting, Kelly recorded three goals and three assists in an 11-8 Maryland victory.

Less than a minute later, Maryland found themselves on the man-up advantage after Evan Connell tripped Henningsen. West found a wide-open Rambo on the doorstep for the goal.

Rambo’s tally gave Maryland their first lead of the afternoon at 8-7.

With 10:05 left in the third quarter, attackman Colin Heacock was behind the cage and found Rambo darting in front for the easy goal to give Maryland a 9-7 lead.

Just 2:05 later, the Tar Heels scored a pair of goals courtesy of Cloutier to tie the game at nine.

After the teams exchanged goals to make it 10-10, Maryland received a man-up advantage thanks to a penalty from Connell once again. Precision passing led to Heacock ripping an absolute bullet past Balkam to give the Terps an 11-10 lead.

Pontrello was able to shake Tim Muller and put a leaping shot past Bernlohr to tie the game at 11.

However, Maryland would answer yet again.

Heacock was able to get the inside position on midfielder Jake Matthai and complete the diving goal to give the Terps a 12-11 lead.

This was finally the year that many thought that Maryland had the depth all over the field. Especially with teams like Denver and Notre Dame eliminated early on, this felt like a Maryland team that was destined to hoist the national title.

Next: What to watch for against North Carolina

It’s hard to swallow right now, but this is a group of Terps that will go down as one of the most productive of all-time.