Virginia got a point blank save from goalie Alex Rode to preserve a 17-16 win against Maryland in an instant classic of an NCAA men’s lacrosse championship game Monday in front of 14,816 appreciative fans in East Hartford, Conn.
It was the second consecutive tournament title for the Cavaliers, although the last one came two years ago with the 2020 tournament canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Connor Shellenberger and Matt Moore were the stars on the offensive end for Virginia (14-4), each recording four goals and two assists. Shellenberger, a freshman, was voted the tournament’s most outstanding player as the Cavs claimed the program’s seventh championship. Logan Wisnauskas paced the scoring with five goals and an assist for the Terrapins (15-1), who came up short in their bid to be the first undefeated NCAA champ since Virginia’s 17-0 squad in 2006.
It was a game of scoring runs and wild momentum swings. Maryland built a 4-2 lead in the first quarter, but the Cavaliers notched the next six tallies to take an 8-4 lead midway through the second. The Terrapins got the next three before Virginia stopped the run to take a 9-7 advantage into intermission.
