By John Painter
(College Park, Md. – May 4, 2013) A pair of Ryan Walsh scores and Peter Baum’s record-setting 164th career goal weren’t enough to overcome NCAA tournament-bound Maryland in an 18-6 loss here Saturday.
The Raiders close at 8-7, while Maryland improves to 10-3 with a likely postseason berth ahead. And while Colgate falls short of its second straight NCAA tournament appearance, Raiders head coach Mike Murphy appreciated Saturday’s contributions made by his 10 seniors.
“It was a great way for our seniors to go out – on a big stage against an ACC opponent,” Murphy said. “And they are very good, Maryland. Coach Tillman does a great job with his guys. They were coming off a couple of tough losses, and they came out and really played well.”
Colgate had won two straight in this series against Maryland teams that advanced to the previous two NCAA championship games. But Saturday’s Terrapins effort was too much for the visiting Raiders.
“I’m just proud of the way our guys played,” Murphy said. “It might not be reflected in the score but if you look at the game and you watch the game, our guys never quit. Maryland came out and delivered a pretty good punch, but our guys never gave up. And that’s a credit to our seniors.”
Two separate Maryland runs of five goals apiece in the first half settled Saturday’s affair. The Terrapins scored the game’s first five goals, allowed a Colgate pair sandwiched around the first quarter horn, and then scored five more times for a 10-2 lead.
It was 10-3 at halftime, and the Raiders never drew any closer.
“It was rough,” said Walsh, who scored his 36th and 37th of the season for team honors in goals. “You go into it with a bunch of seniors who know it’s their last game, and you want to send them out the right way. Unfortunately we didn’t, but we all played hard. And a lot of seniors got to play, which was great.”
All nine Raiders dressed for the game saw action.
31 Straight
Walsh marked his 31st consecutive game with a goal scored, setting the sophomore up to be owner of the nation’s longest active streak when next season begins. For two seasons, the Wantagh, N.Y., native has 75 goals, 33 helpers for 108 points.
“I definitely had bigger aspirations for the team, and individually it is what it is,” Walsh said. “I definitely wish it could have been a more memorable season.”
Walsh knows not to take success for granted, despite the fact that a number of key members return to next year’s team.
“We had a lot of guys coming back this year too, which shows that it’s not going to come naturally,” he said. “You’ve got to work hard. Nothing’s handed to you in this league.”
Baum scored his record-setting 164th career goal on his first shot of the game with 14:29 left in the second quarter. It cemented his place as the Patriot League’s all-time leader in goals.
“Getting that goal felt good; a little weight off my shoulders,” said Baum, this year’s team points leader with 49. “It will be something I’m proud of for a long time.”
Baum in 62 career games and 52 starts finishes with 164 goals, 61 assists and 225 points. In addition to the Patriot League goals record, Baum also departs as Colgate’s leader in goals and points. His assist total stands eighth.
“We came into this week wanting to have fun and get everybody into the game – whether we were up or down,” Baum said. “To be able to see my best friends out there playing hard at the end, it’s everything you hope for in sports.”
Great Finish
Geoffrey Sullivan scored his fourth of the season just before halftime, and Eric Foote tallied No. 7 late in the third quarter. But what really jazzed the Colgate sideline was when one of those seniors Baum spoke about, Denis Brown, scored just the second of his career and first this season with 4:44 remaining.
“That was a good way to end the career,” Brown said with a big smile. “Fake high and shoot low, right? It was awesome and the bench was going nuts. Plus, my parents were in the stands.
“Great way to go out.”
Maryland outshot Colgate 37-30 and held a 46-29 ground balls edge. Face-offs went to the Terrapins 16-12, while Colgate committed 17 turnovers to the hosts’ 16. Both teams converted one of their extra-man opportunities.
Senior Robert Grabher won 12-of-27 face-offs and picked up seven ground balls to finish the season with a Patriot League-high 111. For his career, Grabher played in 58 games, won 53.7 percent of his face-offs and compiled 260 ground balls for the seventh-best total in school history.
Danehy, Bobby Lawrence, Connor Brown and captain James Queeney picked up three ground balls apiece.
“We wanted to finish it out right and I was really proud of everybody’s effort,” Queeney said. “We knew it was our last game and the last time we were going to be together, especially us 10 seniors. So we really brought the effort.
“Unfortunately, Maryland was the better team today. Hats off to them.”
Cherished Memories
Queeney finishes his Colgate tenure with 56 games played and 49 starts, contributing 88 ground balls and 30 caused turnovers. But he said one of his most cherished memories will be playing at Saturday’s end with many of his fellow classmates.
“It’s been a great four years, especially with the other nine seniors,” he said. “Definitely some seniors have seen more time than others, but in this last game of our careers it was really great to see all their hard work for the last four years get rewarded and their getting some playing time.”
Colgate’s Trevor Atkins and Jake Danehy drew their first starting assignments, with Danehy facing down the Terrapins’ offensive assault. The first-year netminder finished with seven saves, including four in the first quarter, and his coach credited Maryland for a superb shooting afternoon.
“Oh, they shot the ball very well,” Murphy said. “Most of the goals, when we go back and watch the film, were in the corners.
“Jake kept us in it. It won’t look like that on the score sheet giving up 18 goals, but the future of our goaltending position is pretty good. When we get back at it next fall, it will be a good competition for whoever that starter’s going to be.”
Murphy already was looking ahead to next season, which will be his third in Hamilton. The Raiders head coach has compiled an impressive 22-11 mark over his first two years, and he appreciates being able to coach Baum and the 2013 senior class.
“I’m proud of the effort we gave today,” he said. “We’ve got to be better fundamentally in all aspects, but we didn’t quit out here against a quality opponent.
As for Baum setting the Patriot League record, Murphy said it was well-deserved.
“Yeah, records are things you can reflect on when the season’s over,” he said. “Now that our season is over, I’m glad he got the goal. If he didn’t, he would have been tied with a great young man who I was able to coach for two years in (Army’s) Garrett Thul. Being able to coach Peter for two years, I can tell you that both are exceptional young men and great players.
“It’s a good way for Peter to go out. He’ll always be in the record books – until the next guy comes along. Hopefully, it’s Ryan Walsh.”
Maryland 18, Colgate 6
Colgate (8-7): Ryan Walsh 2-0, Peter Baum 1-0, Eric Foote 1-0, Geoffrey Sullivan 1-0, Denis Brown 1-0, Michael Thomas 0-1. Totals: 6-1.
Maryland (10-3): Mike Chanenchuk 3-1, Jay Carson 3-0, Kevin Cooper 2-4, Billy Gribbin 2-0, Dave Goodwin 2-0, Jake Bernhardt 1-2, John Haus 1-1, Joe LoCascio 1-1, Owen Blye 1-0, Tommy Forsberg 1-0, Bobby Gribbin 1-0. Totals: 18-9.
Saves: Colgate 7 (Jake Danehy); Maryland 13 (Niko Amato 12, Kyle Bernlohr 1).
Halftime: Maryland 10-3.
Colgate’s Baum Leaves a Legacy
Oregonian Came East and Made His Mark for Raiders
(College Park, Md. – May 4, 2013) He needed just one and he got it.
Peter Baum scored the 164th goal of his illustrious career here Saturday to cement his status as the Patriot League’s all-time goals leader. Throw in Colgate records for goals and points – the latter figure a cool 225 – and one gets a feel for Baum’s immense footprint on the Raiders’ lacrosse program.
“Getting that goal felt good; a little weight off my shoulders,” Baum said after Saturday’s season finale at Maryland. “It will be something I’m proud of for a long time.
When Army’s Garrett Thul scored twice in Friday night’s game against Johns Hopkins, Baum and Thul were tied for the Patriot League career lead at 163 goals apiece. Baum had gone goalless his previous two games against Bucknell and Lehigh, but he found the net Saturday to reclaim his place in history.
The record-setter came at 14:29 of the second quarter on his first shot of the game, a laser straight away from 45 feet that ripped into the back of the net. Pretty much like the other 163.
Baum said he knew where he stood in the race with Thul, but only after being informed by his teammates Friday night.
“Coming into yesterday, I had no idea,” he said. “And then everybody was telling me Garrett had tied me up – I actually thought he was a ways ahead.
“So when I found out we were tied coming into today, I wanted to get a goal early so I wouldn’t have to worry about it at the end and let the other seniors play.”
Colgate couldn’t make it three straight wins over the Terrapins, but Baum was able to enjoy his final turn around the turf despite the 18-6 outcome on the scoreboard.
“They’re a great team, and they’ve been a great team the last two years,” Baum said. “Obviously, we were able to come away with wins the last two years against teams that went to the national championship. This Maryland team is definitely a little more potent offensively, and they showed that today.
“We were trying to work hard all week in practice and go out the right way, and we did that. It was just another one of those games where we ran into a good team and we just ran out of gas.”
A Good Teammate
Baum after the game was more excited to talk about his teammates’ contributions than his own. That included fellow senior Denis Brown scoring his first goal of the season and just the second of his career late in the game.
“We came into this week wanting to have fun and get everybody into the game – whether we were up or down,” said Baum, a team captain. “To be able to see my best friends out there playing hard at the end, it’s everything you hope for in sports.”
For his collegiate career, Baum’s numbers read:
62 games
52 starts
164 goals
61 assists
225 points
493 shots
.333 shooting percentage
102 ground balls
19 caused turnovers
Baum last year became the first Colgate, Patriot League and West Coast player to win the Tewaaraton Award as the nation’s most outstanding player. This year, Baum earned his fourth All-Patriot League First Team selection for play on the field, and his third Academic All-Patriot League Team nod for work in the classroom.
Next for Baum is the jump to Major League Lacrosse, which celebrated him in January as its No. 1 overall pick by the Ohio Machine. Baum was the first overall No. 1 selection by a professional sports team in Colgate Athletics history.
Colgate head coach Mike Murphy knows what a true gem he has coached in Baum.
“Peter has meant so much to this program,” Murphy said. “Peter didn’t focus on his records during the season, but now that our season is over, I’m glad he got the goal.
“If he didn’t, he would have been tied with a great young man who I was able to coach for two years in (Army’s) Garrett Thul. Being able to coach Peter for two years, I can tell you that both are exceptional young men and great players.”