Terrapins outpace Bellarmine 12-7

Courtesy of Bellarmine Athletics

LOUISVILLE, Ky.-Bellarmine University played their 2010 lacrosse home opener on Saturday as the No. 6 Maryland Terrapins came to town and left Owsley B. Frazier Stadium with a 12-7 victory in an NCAA Division I non-conference game. 

The game was competitive from the opening faceoff as the teams were deadlocked at one after the first period. The Knights drew first blood as senior Derek Hopcroft found the back of the net with 36 seconds left off a pass from Shane Andersen. 

The lead was short lived though as the Terrapins claimed the ensuing faceoff and drove straight down the field to score just 15 seconds after Bellarmine's initial tally.

Maryland's powerful attack unit began to take control in the second period. After a pair of goals by Maryland, Sean Doyle converted a pass from Chase Williams to cut the lead back to one at the 10:59 mark. 

The Terrapins tallied two more goals in the second period to take a 5-2 lead into halftime. 

The Knights struck quickly in the second half as Austin Bright scored less than a minute into the new period off a pass from Jarrett Davis.  Maryland then took advantage of two man-up opportunities to extend the lead to 7-3 at the 9:00 minute mark. 

Williams countered for Bellarmine, scoring consecutive goals on assists from Andersen and Davis.  Maryland's Jake Bernhardt ended the third period's scoring at the 2:13 mark to give the Terrapins an 8-5 lead heading into the final quarter.

In the end, the Knights could not keep up with the Terrapins high-powered offense as Maryland stretched the lead to 12-5 before Bellarmine scored two late goals to make the final score 12-7.

For the game the Maryland outshot the Knights 40-24, including 14-3 in the decisive second period.

Offensively, the Knights were led by Williams, who finished the game with two goals and an assist, and Davis, who dished out three assists. 

While disappointed that Bellarmine couldn't get the win, Bellarmine Coach Jack McGetrick seemed pleased with the team's effort. "That's the toughest team we will face all season," he said. "So, I think we will be alright."

Bellarmine falls to 2-1 on the season, while Maryland starts 1-0. 

Bellarmine returns to action next Saturday the 27^th when they travel to St. Joseph's University (Pa.). Game time is set for noon.