2008 Woodie Awards
Terrapin men's lacrosse notebook: Goalies continue battle for top spot
Eric Detweiler
Issue date: 3/27/08 Section: Sports
All season, Terrapin men's lacrosse coach Dave Cottle has said he will continue to use the goalie tandem of redshirt junior Jason Carter and sophomore Brian Phipps until someone wins the job outright.
So far that hasn't happened, and for the time being they will probably continue to alternate starts and halves in net.
"I thought we'd be playing better right now in the goal, but they're working hard and doing all the things they need to do," Cottle said.
They have each made four starts, and while Phipps has a lower goals against average (5.95-8.62), Carter has made more saves (39-33).
If form holds, it is Carter's turn to start on Saturday against No. 1 Virginia, and Cottle said it would be a great time for the tandem to break through and play the game of the season.
"They just haven't had that game where we've just killed them in the goal," Cottle said. "I think it's right around the corner, and hopefully, it's going to be this weekend."
n Man-up a work in progress
Last season the Terps scored on nearly 50 percent of their man-up opportunities. This season the Terps have converted on 11-of-31 attempts, roughly 36 percent.
But Cottle is not concerned by the drop off, citing a smaller sample size and an improving, young line.
The number is particularly hurt by going a combined 0-of-9 on man-up chances in back-to-back games against Towson and UMBC earlier this season.
The Terps cashed in on 3-of-6 opportunities in Saturday's win at North Carolina, including a pair of fourth quarter goals by freshman attackman Brett Weiss. Freshman Travis Reed, who has a team-high four man-up goals this season, added the other score.
Cottle said the team has started practicing the situations more in practice recently and expects the unit to approach last year's percentage by season's end.
"We're playing some young kids on extra man. I think they'll get better as the season goes along," Cottle said.
So far that hasn't happened, and for the time being they will probably continue to alternate starts and halves in net.
"I thought we'd be playing better right now in the goal, but they're working hard and doing all the things they need to do," Cottle said.
They have each made four starts, and while Phipps has a lower goals against average (5.95-8.62), Carter has made more saves (39-33).
If form holds, it is Carter's turn to start on Saturday against No. 1 Virginia, and Cottle said it would be a great time for the tandem to break through and play the game of the season.
"They just haven't had that game where we've just killed them in the goal," Cottle said. "I think it's right around the corner, and hopefully, it's going to be this weekend."
n Man-up a work in progress
Last season the Terps scored on nearly 50 percent of their man-up opportunities. This season the Terps have converted on 11-of-31 attempts, roughly 36 percent.
But Cottle is not concerned by the drop off, citing a smaller sample size and an improving, young line.
The number is particularly hurt by going a combined 0-of-9 on man-up chances in back-to-back games against Towson and UMBC earlier this season.
The Terps cashed in on 3-of-6 opportunities in Saturday's win at North Carolina, including a pair of fourth quarter goals by freshman attackman Brett Weiss. Freshman Travis Reed, who has a team-high four man-up goals this season, added the other score.
Cottle said the team has started practicing the situations more in practice recently and expects the unit to approach last year's percentage by season's end.
"We're playing some young kids on extra man. I think they'll get better as the season goes along," Cottle said.
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