Towson at Maryland: Halftime thoughts
On the strength of a five-goal second quarter, No. 6 Maryland enjoys an 8-3 advantage over visiting Towson at Byrd Stadium Saturday.
Both teams have had to endure a steady rain and wind that has been torrential at times, but the Terps (3-0) appear to be handling it better. The Maryland players appear quicker to the ball, more solid in their footing, and more adept at causing turnovers and protecting the ball.
For the half, the Terps have taken more shots (25-6), collected more groundballs (20-13) and forced more turnovers (9-4) than the Tigers (0-2).
Maryland has also gotten goals from seven different players. Only sophomore attackman Joe Cummings (Loyola) has scored twice -- both on extra-man opportunities. Junior attackman Travis Reed (Boys' Latin) has recorded two assists.
Other notes:
*Senior Christian Pastirik leads Towson with one goal and one assist. A converted attackman who starts in the midfield and transferred from Cornell, Pastirik (St. Mary's) is as comfortable initiating from the midfield as he is behind the net. In fact, his lone goal occurred at the "X" as Pastirik went right, cut back to his left, curled around the left post, and deposited a shot into the top half of the net.
*Terps junior long-stick midfielder Brian Farrell is currently leading the competition with senior midfielder Will Harrington. Farrell has just as many goals (one) as Harrington, and Farrell has played solid defense.
*Sophomore attackman Matt Lamon is making his first appearance for the Tigers after missing the first two games due to surgery for an emergency appendectomy. Lamon (St. Mary's) almost scored, but his bullet off the left wing rang off the right post. He should've gotten an assist when he sent a skip pass to freshman attackman Matt Hughes alone on the right wing, but Hughes' shot was blocked by the helmet of senior short-stick defensive midfielder Bryn Holmes.
Categories: Halftime thoughts, Maryland, Towson
