Score: #4 Maryland 16, UAlbany 9
 
Location: Tom & Mary Casey Stadium in Albany, N.Y.
 
Records: UAlbany (1-4) | Maryland (4-2)
 
Short Story: Jack Pucci records a hat trick and men's lacrosse plays the defending national champions close but #4 Maryland pulls away late to win 16-9.
 
Key Stats

• Jack Pucci scored three goals
• Graydon Hogg and Declan Palandjian each scored twice
• Regan Endres won 16 of 29 faceoffs
• Jake Piseno forced four turnovers
• Jack VanValkenburgh recorded 10 saves in net
• Maryland narrowly outshot UAlbany 45-41 

Head Coach Scott Marr: "It did not seem like a 16-9 ballgame.  It was close the whole way. 7-5 at halftime, later 9-7 in the third quarter.  We had some chances.  Their goalie played really well in the fourth quarter with five saves, and three really, really good once.  I am very proud of our effort.  We talked all week about playing for the full 60 minutes and not worrying about the score, especially after last year.  We wanted to make sure we played hard for the 60 minutes and I was really proud that we did do that today.  We just fell short, and that's the way the game goes.  Credit to Maryland, they're obviously a very good team, but we're definitely showing signs of being a very good team ourselves.  We look forward to getting into conference play next week with UMass Lowell."
 
How it Happened

• For the fourth game in a row, the University at Albany hosted their opponent, this time the defending national champions and fourth-ranked Maryland Terrapins.  The Great Danes opened their 10-game home schedule this season with the defending national runner-up Cornell Big Red in February.
• Jack Pucci struck first for UAlbany, unassisted, less than two minutes after the opening faceoff.  Regan Endres resumed his faceoff duties after Nick Karnes handled primary responsibilities the last two games and quickly won the first of the game.
• Maryland scored just over two minutes later to tie the game at one.  Declan Palandjian put UAlbany back on top just over one minute later, with 9:51 left in the first quarter, also unassisted.
• Maryland rolled off a five-goal run into the second quarter, taking a 6-2 lead with 9:31 remaining before halftime.  Freshman Alex Pfeiffer scored with 7:49 on the clock off a setup from TJ Sheehan to end the Terrapins' run.
• Graydon Hogg scored UAlbany's second-straight goal, his first of two, off a setup from Thomas Decker to close within 6-4.  After Maryland scored to go back up three Hogg scored his second just before halftime to keep UAlbany within two.
• Maryland scored twice early in the third quarter to extend their lead to four, 9-5, before Palandjian and Pucci scored back-to-back, unassisted, to close back within two mid-way through the period.  Maryland regrouped and closed the third on a 3-0 run to take a 12-7 lead into the final quarter.
• Sheehan found the back of the net with 12:43 left in the fourth, but Maryland scored each of the next four to lead 15-8 with 6:11 to go.  Pucci netted his third and final goal of the game with 5:36 remaining, before Maryland added one final goal with 3:34 to go to bring the final score to 16-9.
• Stats were largely even across the board, with Maryland holding slim edges in shots taken 45-41, and ground balls 42-41.  Maryland recorded 13 saves to UAlbany's 10, and committed 13 turnovers to UAlbany's 12, while UAlbany won 16 faceoffs, against Maryland's 13. 

Next: UAlbany hosts UMass Lowell to open America East play on March 18.