BOX SCORE
COLLEGE PARK, Md. – The University of Hartford lacrosse team struggled with possession as it dropped its 2012 season opener on the road at No. 8 Maryland. The Hawks were outscored 8-1 over the final 21 minutes and 19 seconds of the game. Maryland controlled possession throughout the contest, winning 19-of-20 face offs and scooping 53 groundballs compared to 21 for the Hawks. Maryland also held a 40-23 shot advantage.
Hartford led, 5-4, after freshman attack Kevin O'Shea scored his second of three goals of the contest, unassisted, with 10:51 remaining in the third quarter. The Hawks held that lead for more than four minutes before Maryland picked up its scoring.
The Terrapins went on a four-goal run over a 3:18 span in the third quarter to open up an 8-4 lead. John Haus started the run with his first goal of the game, knotting the game, 5-5, with 6:19 to play in the quarter. The Terps took the lead for good just more than two minutes later when Michael Ehrhardt found Joe Cummings to give Maryland a 6-5 lead. Haus would score again and later assisted on a John Carlson goal to give Maryland the 8-5 advantage heading into the fourth quarter.
Hartford had an opportunity to come back, beginning the final period with a man advantage that had carried over from the third. O'Shea took advantage, picking up a rebound on a deflected shot and finding the back of the net just nine seconds into the fourth. O'Shea's goal, his third of the game and second man-up goal of the contest, cut the Maryland lead to two, 8-6.
That was as close as the Hawks would get as Maryland went on to score the final four goals to pull off the 12-6 victory.
Hartford started the game strong, opening up a 2-0 lead after the first quarter. Senior Aidan Genik started the scoring when classmate Carter Bender found him from behind the net. Genik beat the Maryland keeper at the 12:41 mark of the first quarter to give the Hawks a 1-0 lead.
Senior Martin Bowes made it a 2-0 game when he scored unassisted from the right side. The Bowes tally came with 7:48 remaining in the opening frame.
Maryland scored the first two goals of the second quarter to tie the game at two apiece. Sophomre Tate Klidonas broke the tie with his goal at the 3:21 mark. Bender assisted on the goal for his second assist of the game.
Maryland tied the game again, 3-3, with 1:03 to play in the half. The Terrapins scored again six seconds later after Curtis Holmes won the ensuing face off, picked up the groundball and scored an unassisted goal. Maryland took the 4-3 lead into the break.
O'Shea scored the first of his three goals early in the third quarter. After a delay of game by the Terrapins gave the Hawks a man advantage with 14:20 to play in the third, Bowes found O'Shea just 12 seconds into the penalty to tie the contest, 4-4. O'Shea put the Hawks ahead three minutes later.
Defensively, senior goaltender Scott Bement made 12 stops on 24 shots on goal and paced the Hawks with four groundballs.
Next up for the Hawks is Holy Cross in the home opener next Saturday, February 25, at 1 p.m. at Alumni Stadium.
