Question in net places burden on Maryland defensemen
As of last week, Maryland was still mulling whether to go with junior Mark White or redshirt freshman Niko Amato as the starting goalkeeper when Detroit Mercy visits College Park Saturday for the Terps’ season opener.
Neither White nor Amato is experienced at the college level, which would seem to place a great deal of pressure on starting defensemen Brett and Max Schmidt (no relation) and Ryder Bohlander, all of whom return this year.
Brett Schmidt said the defense’s responsibilities don’t change whether they were playing with a four-year starter or a rookie.
“We can guide the goalies along and play better defense,” said Schmidt, who – like Max Schmidt and Bohlander – is a senior. “If we give up sharp-angle shots, we’re going to give the goalie more confidence that he can build on during the season. So that’s definitely a key for us, to play good, tough defense and give our goalie the confidence to take us down the road and hopefully to championship weekend.”
Schmidt said the players feel comfortable with either White or Amato in the net.
“Experience is great, but we have tons of confidence in both Niko and Mark,” Schmidt said. “So it’s not too big of a deal. It’s just that little learning curve you have at the beginning when you’re starting college lacrosse and when you’re a starting goalie for the University of Maryland. So we just have to balance that and hopefully help whoever it is.”
