The Cavaliers rank second in scoring (14.4 goals per game), fifth in defense (7.3 goals per game), and first in scoring margin (7.1 goals per game). They put all this, and their number one ranking, on the line this weekend as they traveled to College Park to take on the fourth-ranked Maryland, who had just suffered their first loss of the season last week against still-undefeated North Carolina. The Hoos won the matchup in a 11-10 nailbiter and remain undefeated on the season.
Sophomores Chris Bocklet and Steele Stanwick each matched career highs with four goals as the Wahoos (10-0, 1-0 ACC) escaped an impressive rally effort by the Terrapins (6-2, 1-2).
"I am not sure who the good guy or the bad guy is in this game," said Virginia head coach Dom Starsia. "We go ahead, they come back. We make a play at the end and win the game. It is quite remarkable, but this is how these conference games are like. Every game in the ACC is like this - we are in the murderer's row part of the schedule with Maryland today and now North Carolina and Duke up before the ACC Tournament."
The Cavs opened the game with a 6-0 start, and closed out the first half being up 7-2 and very much in control of the game. But the second half was a different story, as Maryland used 3-0 and 4-0 runs to climb right back into the thick of things.
Shamel Bratton fired a rocket at 1:51 in the second half to give the Hoos an uncomfortable 11-9 lead. With 57 seconds left, Maryland found the back of the net, making this game go down to the wire.
Adam Ghitelman saved four shots in between the pipes for UVa, while Brian McDermott won 13-of-20 faceoffs.Virginia continues ACC play on Saturday, April 10, when the Cavaliers open up the New Meadowlands in the Konica Minolta Big City Classic against No. 2/3 North Carolina. Faceoff is at 4:00 p.m. and this writer will be there live to cover it.