Posts Tagged ‘grant catalino’

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April 24th, 2008 | 03:52 pm

The Young and the Possibly Restless

One thing the Terp men’s lacrosse team does not have going for it heading into this weekend’s ACC tournament is their experience.

With a roster featuring 18 freshman making their first appearance in the tournament, it will be up to the older players to show the younger guys the ropes. Five Terps played in the 2005 ACC championship game win against Duke. Two players, defenders Ryne Adolph and Jacob Baxter, were even around the 2004 championship team as freshmen who were redshirting.

“I just gotta try to keep the guys focused,” Adolph said. “The [awards] banquet tonight is pretty cool for all the young guys, but we just have to maintain that it’s just a business trip, and we’re going down there to take care of business.”

Coach Dave Cottle said he will individually meet with each freshman in the hotel tonight to talk about how he can help them the rest of the season. He will learn a lot about his team by its performance this weekend.

“This is a training ground for the NCAA playoffs,” Cottle said. “It’s a big game on the road at a different site. I’ve seen some guys that have hit the wall and gone through it. I’ve see some of the younger guys who are getting close. I just think we’re learning how to be a better team right now.”

Freshman attackman Grant Catalino said he doesn’t really know what to expect from the tournament, but after playing big, rivalry games throughout the season, he is feeling confident.

“I still don’t feel like a veteran when I play in these big games, but it’s not like it was going into the (season-opening) Georgetown game. I’m not nervous and stuff like that,” Catalino said.

The worst part of the trip could be the travel. The Terps left on the bus for Charlottesville at 11 a.m. When the Terps arrive, they will practice, go to the awards banquet later tonight and then wait until 7:30 tomorrow night for their game to start.

“It’s going to be fun and difficult at the same time,” junior midfielder Jeff Reynolds said. “A lot of guys are going to be anxious because we’ve got a lot of down time. Once again, we’ve got to focus on what we’ve got to do and can’t mess around too much.”

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April 2nd, 2008 | 09:21 pm

The waiting is the hardest part

You know how you felt before that history exam worth 40 percent of your semester grade? Remember the anticipation leading up to your first high school date with the cute girl/guy from home room?

Now combine them, and that’s kind of how Terrapin men’s lacrosse long pole Brian Farrell is feeling right now waiting to play Friday’s home game against Navy.

“It gets you pumped up,” said Farrell, who is one of 27 Terps who has never suited up for a home game against the Midshipmen. “You already get chills down your back come Wednesday and you’ve still got two days to prepare. It’s going to be fun, and it should be a good game.”

It’s an 8 p.m. Friday start time that should bring a large crowd out to Byrd Stadium. (If you’re looking for incentive to go, the first 1,000 fans in get free t-shirts.)

Junior midfielder Jeremy Sieverts, a Butler transfer, is readying for his first shot at Navy at home. Last year’s game at Navy-Marine Corps. Field in Annapolis brought out 14,625 to see the Terps win 8-7 in two overtimes, and Sieverts doesn’t expect anything different this year—except for maybe a few more Terp fans.

“Last year was a great experience playing there,” Sieverts said. “I think it will be just as exciting with a great atmosphere again this year. We’re really excited for Friday.”

For freshmen like attackman Grant Catalino, it’s a new experience altogether. Even though he’s played in rivalry games already this season, Catalino admitted he really doesn’t know what to expect.

“The last few games have been pretty big rivalries, but from what I hear the Navy game is one of the biggest we have here,” Catalino said. “I’m looking forward to it. I’m excited but nervous at the same time.”

Add in the fact that the Terps haven’t beat Navy at home since 2002 and that both teams are ranked in the top-10 for the fifth straight year, and it should make enough for high drama at Byrd.

Maybe even enough to make you blow off studying for that big exam. Go ahead and ask the cute kid on your dorm floor to accompany you.

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March 17th, 2008 | 08:33 pm

If they can do it…

Despite a busy weekend that included two Terp men’s lacrosse games, coach Dave Cottle apparently found time to catch up on NCAA men’s basketball conference tournament action– and use it to motivate his team.

After the No. 9 Terps lost at UMBC Friday night on Maxx Davis’ goal with 1.5 seconds left in the third overtime, they had a quick turnaround, hosting Air Force on Sunday afternoon.

Cottle said he told his team to look at the example set by the Pittsburgh (4 games in 4 days to win the Big East Tournament) and Georgia (two games on Saturday at the SEC Tournament) basketball teams.

“The only thing I thought we should be tired of is losing, not of playing two games in three days,” Cottle said.

The Terps responded with a 16-4 win in which they had a 13-0 run, made possible because they held the Falcons scoreless for 44:03 from the last minute of the first quarter to late in the fourth quarter.

Cottle said he was happy with the bounce back effort after the Terps failed to execute and finish key chances against the Retrievers. He also praised a total team effort.

Grant Catalino, Will Dalton, Jeff Reynolds and Dan Morrison each scored a pair of goals and eight others tallied single goals for the Terps, who don’t play again until Saturday’s game at No. 5 North Carolina– which should give the Terps just enough time to draw some motivation from the first round of the NCAA men’s basketball Tournament.

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