By Tom Peace

Army Edges Navy, 7-6

The Black Knights of Army defeated the Midshipmen of Navy, 7-6, at M&T Bank Stadium April 17 at the SmartLink Day of Rivals. This storied rivalry did not disappoint as the game delivered plenty of dramatic moments.

In the fourth quarter, with Navy trailing, 7-6, and just 36 seconds remaining in the game, Navy midfielder Nikk Davis drove to the Army goal and made a diving shot. The ball went in but Davis was pushed into the goal by an Army defenseman. A flag was thrown and the referees ruled it not a goal. Davis took a hard shot to the side post of the goal and had to leave the game, and the Midshipmen couldn't convert in the remaining seconds.

After the game, Navy head coach Richie Meade said he wasn't given an explanation as to why the goal was called back.

"I don't have the benefit of instant replay," Meade said. "The only time I have seen in the game of lacrosse where a player goes underneath, scores and gets a flag, and it doesn't count. When I saw the replay, I thought the goal was good."

Army was led by junior attackman Jeremy Boltus, who had three goals and an assist. Head coach Joe Alberici felt his team played very well.

"It was a tremendous game," Alberici said. "I was very proud of our guys, two evenly-matched teams."

The win gives Army a 6-5 record (4-0 in the Patriot League) while Navy falls to 5-7 (4-2 in Patriot League play).

Maryland Downs Johns Hopkins, 10-9

No. 4 Maryland Terrapins faced off against the Johns Hopkins Blue Jays in the second game of Saturday's Day of Rivals. It was another close matchup as Maryland defeated Hopkins, 10-9.

The game was close through the first two quarters and Hopkins held a 4-3 lead at halftime. The Terps came out in the third quarter and scored two quick goals to take a 5-4 advantage.

"I thought the third quarter, getting that first goal was huge for us," said Maryland head coach Dave Cottle.

Hopkins committed too many penalties down the stretch, which allowed the powerful Maryland offense to take advantage. With 11 seconds left in the third period, Blue Jays junior Michael Orry was called for unsportsmanlike conduct and Matt Drenan was called for a cross check. Maryland took advantage of the two extra-man opportunities going into the fourth quarter.

Maryland attackman Travis Reed and Grant Catalino scored to give the Terps an 8-5 lead. The Hopkins offense tried to make a comeback down the stretch, but Maryland dominated on the faceoff line, where they were 13 for 22.

"Congratulations to Maryland, they are a veteran team, they chipped away, they are winning in two places -- extra man and groundballs," said Hopkins coach Dave Pietramala.

The win gives Maryland an 8-2 record while Johns Hopkins falls to 5-6 on the season.

Posted April 18, 2010