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.”
edetweilerdbk@gmail.com