The No. 4 Terps jumped to a three-goal lead in the first half of the first quarter, but since then the No. 2 Cavaliers have clawed their way back into the lead and took a 5-4 advantage into halftime.
The Terps started out on fire, continuing the whole-field domination they held throughout their win against North Carolina on Friday. But Virginia recovered, reeling off a 4-0 run of their own to go ahead 4-3 late in the second quarter. That seemed to jolt the Terps, as Bryn Holms won the ensuing faceoff to set up a breakaway and attackman Travis Reed scored to regain a piece of the lead.
But no sooner had the Terps tied it than the Cavaliers took the lead again, as Rhamel Bratton scored on the next possession with 13 seconds remaining in the half to give Virginia the lead at the intermission.
Goalie Adam Ghitelman’s eight first-half saves helped keep the Terps in check early and later allowed the Cavaliers the chance to move into the lead.