Preview and Prediction: No. 1 Maryland lacrosse at No. 18 Virginia
The Terps look to stay perfect against their old ACC enemy.
Men's Lacrosse – Game 7, at Virginia, Klockner Stadium, Saturday at 4:00 PM
Season Records: #1 Maryland (6-0), #18 Virginia (3-3)
Series Record: Maryland, 51-47
Last Meeting: 2024, 12-6, Maryland in NCAA Final Four
Media: ACCN
Stats: HERE
Quick Preview
Over the past six seasons, Maryland versus Virginia has come with the highest stakes. Since 2019 and excluding the 2020 COVID year, Maryland and Virginia have ended each other's seasons four out of the last five seasons. In last season's NCAA Final Four in Philadelphia, the Terps routed the Cavaliers and ended the careers of Virginia all-time greats Connor Shellenberger and Peyton Cormier. If early season returns say much, the Cavaliers might not have recovered from that shellacking. The Terps return to Charlottesville, the scene of Brian Ruppel's three-save, overtime sequence in 2023, looking to maintain their top ranking while perhaps putting Virginia into "must win the ACC to get to the NCAA Tournament" territory.
The Opponent
Start with the losses. Connor Shellenberger finished his career as Virginia's all-time leading scorer and the storied program's only four-time, first-team All-American. All Peyton Cormier did during his career in Charlottesville was finish as the NCAA's all-time leading goal scorer. Throw in the loss of All-American defenseman Cole Kastner and All-American FOGO Petey Lasalla, and Virginia has massive holes to fill in its roster.
Virginia coach Lars Tiffany has always recruited well, and Virginia has former five-star high school recruits littered throughout its roster.
McCabe Millon (9g, 11a) came to Charlottesville as the nation's top-ranked recruit and started every game last season. The two-handed, fiery Millon can take over games but has struggled this season with poor shooting on a high volume of shots now that defenses key on him. Millon is joined at attack by another former five-star recruit in Truitt Sunderland (16g, 14a). Sunderland has battled injuries in his two prior seasons but finally looks to live up to his lofty recruiting ranking. Ryan Colsey (17g, 6a), only the 60th-ranked recruit in his class, moves back to his natural attack spot after running through the box as a midfielder last season.
Virginia's midfield has been a bit of a sore spot since the 2022 graduation of All-American Matt Moore. Talent does not seem the problem, at least on paper. Griffin Schutz (8g, 2a), himself the former top-ranked high school recruit of his class, is a bull of a midfielder. Built like a linebacker, Schutz can shoot on the run or make spectacular plays, as he did while leading Virginia to a win over the Terps during last regular season's game in College Park. Thomas Menke (6g, 3a), a former attackman, joins Schutz in the midfield with a strong ball carrying presence. Will Inderlied (2g) has rounded out the first midfield line with a big frame and good athleticism.
Virginia brought in former Duke attackman/midfielder Charles Balsamo (1a), the seventh-ranked recruit in his class, and former Bryant midfielder Johnny Hackett (1g) from the transfer portal. Neither has made much of an impact so far. Jack Walshe (6g, 3a) has given the second midfield line more punch, though.
With the graduation of Kastner, John Schroter (12gb, 5ct) takes on Virginia's role as their primary close defender. George Fulton (9gb, 9ct) returns as a starter at close defense, while Griffin Kology (5gb, 4ct) moves into the starting defense after being a solid rotation player. Schroter and Fulton have length and are mobile, while Kology brings more muscle.
Virginia's rope unit has good pieces, including one of the top LSMs in the country in Ben Wayer (4g, 1a, 37gb, 9ct). Wayer is a menace on the wings and between the restraining lines. His ability to patrol the middle of the field allows Virginia to hop into pressure rides. Virginia's short-stick defensive group features two returning players in Noah Chizmar (1g, 17gb, 2ct) and Joey Terenzi (1g, 3gb). Some believe Terenzi should play offense given his ability to score. Will Erdmann (4gb, 2ct) and Mack Till (3gb, 4ct) give the group good size and athleticism.
Matt Nunes (8.43ga, 54 percent) returned to Virginia's starting lineup last week against Towson after Kyle Morris (12ga, 48 percent) had started the first five games of the season in goal. The Terps have faced both goalies and found success.
Finally, Virginia features two main face-off specialists. Anthony Ghobriel (2a, 56 percent, 18gb), a one-time Navy Midshipmen, takes the majority of face-offs, while Andrew Greenspan (1g, 58 percent, 9gb) spells Ghobriel.
Inside the Match-Up
Virginia has struggled replacing generational players in key positions despite Tiffany's ability to bring in top recruits. The struggles have extended beyond Virginia's offense. Per Lacrosse Reference, Virginia ranks 21st in adjusted offensive efficiency, 22nd in adjusted defensive efficiency, 24th in adjusted face-off percent, and 38th in adjusted save percent.
The Cavaliers have not changed their offense much over the years despite personnel changes. Dodges off picks behind the goal or up in the midfield with scissor cuts from crease players. The offense requires elite athletes and dodgers to gain an edge, draw a slide, and find open cutters in the crease.
The Cavaliers' offense thrives when its defense forces turnovers or goalies trigger run outs off saves to get transition goals. In the past, Virginia also often scored off face-offs. Its attack relentlessly rode back possessions and scored in early offense or unsettled situations. The Cavaliers rank seventh in the nation in time to first shot but are just 48th in the nation in time of possession.
The Cavaliers still like to ride and jump into a 10-man ride, especially with Nunes in goal. Opponents clear at just 81 percent; however, the Cavaliers themselves only clear at 80 percent.
With Millon taking nearly 20 percent of Virginia's shots but shooting just 17 percent, Virginia's half field offense has ground to a halt. Sunderland, a Baltimore native, gives the offense more balance between dodging and passing, but his sleight frame makes him easier to push away from dangerous spots.
Expect Will Schaller to take the Millon match up, with Colin Burlace and Jackson Canfield switching on and off Sunderland and Colsey.
Virginia's offensive malaise emanate from a lack of midfield dodging. While Schutz is a bear to handle, he has largely no showed in several games. Balsamo and Hackett came to Virginia to solve some of these dodging issues but have not made much impact to this point.
Schutz will demand the long pole match up, and the Terps short-stick defensive unit will look to push Virginia midfield dodgers down the alleys. It is crucial for Terrapin defenders to communicate off-ball in the crease, but if the Cavaliers can't win dodging match ups, the Terps won't slide. The Terps' rope unit has played exceptionally well through six games.
