Return to Pointer View home page May 21, 2004

Terps end Army lax season

By Jim Zuhlke
Army Athletic Relations

Junior Jim Wagner scored five goals versus Maryland Sat. His 46 goals this year are the most byt an Army6 player since 1978. Photo by Spc. Eric S. Bartelt/PV

COLLEGE PARK, Md. -- Third-seeded Maryland scored seven unanswered goals at the beginning of the fourth quarter on the strength of seven consecutive faceoff wins to defeat Army, 16-12, in an NCAA First Round contest in front of 4,265 fans at Byrd Stadium in College Park, Md., Saturday night.

The Terrapins (13-2) advance to face Princeton in the NCAA Quarterfinals Saturday in Charlottesville , Va. The Black Knights (10-5) conclude their 85th season of intercollegiate lacrosse with their second consecutive NCAA Tournament first-round exit.

Faceoff specialist Drew Virk won seven consecutive draws and the Terps converted on each possession to break open a game that was all tied up, 7-7, after three quarters of play. A different Terp scored all seven goals during the decisive run.

Junior Jim Wagner ended the six-goal spurt with his third of the game at 5:50 of the final quarter. Wagner finished with five goals on the evening and sophomore John Walker with four, setting a new academy record for goals in a season between two players at 83.

Junior Matt Darak made 20 saves in goal for Army, keeping the Black Knights in the game throughout the first three quarters. He finished the 2004 season with 227 saves, breaking the school’s single-season mark that had stood for the past 49 years.

Maryland jumped on top first with two goals from Joe Walters eight seconds apart. Both teams played a deliberate style of offense choosing to possess the ball for long periods of time. The Terps finally broke a scoreless deadlock at the 9:49 mark on a well-placed shot by Walters. Maryland won the ensuing faceoff and Walters struck again immediately, posting the hosts to a 2-0 lead.

Wagner then got the visitors on the board at 9:25 with one of eight unassisted tallies on the evening for the Black Knights. Maryland ’s strength all season has been its defense anchored by two All-Americans. However, Army’s potent attack showed the ability to beat their man in one-on-one situations consistently.

Walters finished with a team-high three goals and three assists on the evening. Wagner took over the nation’s lead in goals scored with his five-goal performance. He finishes with 46 tallies, one more than Maryland ’s Joe Walters’ 45.

Wagner’s 46 goals are the most in a single season at Army since Scott Finlay scored 49 goals in 1978. His 64 points are the most in a year since Tim Pearson’s 66 in 2001.