Unseeded for the first time since 1997, the Maryland Terrapins (11-4) dominated play Sunday in their 2011 NCAA Men's Lacrosse first round tournament game, upsetting the #8 North Carolina Tar Heels (10-6) at Fetzer Field in Chapel Hill, NC.
Maryland came out energized, imposing their will in the first half. Despite just a two goal lead at 6-4, the Terps won the first half groundball war 16-4 and had a 9-3 advantage on faceoffs.
Maryland's Kevin Cooper and Owen Blye notched hat tricks, and Ryan Young added two goals and three assists for a well-balanced Terps attack. Maryland scored three or more goals in every quarter against a shellshocked North Carolina squad.
Maryland freshman goaltender Niko Amato would have been the story of the game, making 13 saves and stonewalling the Tar Heels all afternoon long. I say would've been the star because there is no denying the highlight of the game was this hidden ball trick play, leading to the Maryland goal that basically broke the spirit of North Carolina. Watch that clip a couple times, that's some pretty entertaining stuff.
Maryland now awaits the winner of Sunday evening's Syracuse/Siena tilt, with that matchup to be played next Sunday at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, MA.