When the No. 4 Terps play No. 1 Virginia under the lights at Byrd Stadium tonight, fans will notice a new look for the starting line.
Following the team’s first loss at North Carolin Coach Dave Cottle decided to switch things up before facing yet another unbeaten ACC opponent.
The target of his changes? The offense. Will Yeatman, who had been playing with the first midfield line, is back on attack with the junior trio of Grant Catalino, Ryan Young and Travis Reed. He switched spots with Joe Cummings, who also saw time on midfield last year.
Dan Burns is also new to the first midfield line, replacing Adam Sear. After starting the season injured, Burns returned as a short stick defensive midfielder against Duke on March 6, and Cottle has been impressed with his impact – enough, apparently, to earn him a starting spot. Sear himself joins the new third midfield unit, alongside Scott LaRue and Landon Carr. The Terps started the year with three rotating midfields; the former third midfield is now listed as the fourth.
Why all the offensive shuffling? The Terps had averaged more than 12 goals a game going into last week’s 9-7 loss to the Tar Heels. But they struggled to get past North Carolina’s tough press. Cottle said he expected to see the same type of defense from the Cavaliers this weekend, which could have spurred the changes. To win, the Terps will need to find a way to get by the punishing pressure in the midfield.
Yeatman’s move back to attack doesn’t come as a huge surprise; he has seen time at his natural position in many of the games so far, and his production at midfield has waned. And Cummings’ midfield experience provides a smoother transition. Sear, on the other hand, scored two goals last week, but he got them while playing on the man-up unit. While he will not start, he should still be counted on to contribute from there.
Kate Yanchulis is the Terrapin men’s lacrosse team beat writer for The Diamondback. She can be reached at kyanchulisdbk@gmail.com.