Ritz tallies seven points in his first game as a Terp.

Feb. 28, 2004

WASHINGTON, D.C. - No. 5 Maryland reeled off nine consecutive goals in the final 17 minutes of the first half blow out No. 6 Georgetown, 14-5, on a sunny afternoon at Harbin Field.

Sophomore Xander Ritz (Randor, Pa.) tallied seven points in his Terp debut on three goals and four assists. Fellow sophomore attacker Joe Walters (Rochester, N.Y.) netted his sixth career hat trick in the win with three goals.

"This was a great performance for us," said head coach Dave Cottle. "The second quarter was as good as I've seen us play. Our defense and offense were very strong all afternoon and this is a solid way to begin the season."

Through the first 11 minutes, the game stood scoreless as both goalies - Maryland's Tim McGinnis (Ellicott City, Md.) and Georgetown's Rich D'Andrea were sensational, with each making six saves. After Georgetown's Kevin Langtry opened the scoring with 4:17 left in the first quarter, the floodgates opened up as the Terps reeled off nine consecutive goals.

Ritz, the transfer from Delaware, opened the scoring with his first of two goals in the 9-0 run with 2:13 left in the first quarter. Walters than took a pass from Ritz to make give the Terps the lead they would never relinquish with 1:26 left in the first period.

The second quarter was all Maryland -- outscoring the Hoyas 7-0. Goals came from seven different players in the run: Justin Smith (University Park, Md.), Michael Hartofilis (Huntington, N.Y.), Bill McGlone (Swarthmore, Pa.), Ritz, Walters and brothers Ian Healy and Brendan Healy (Great Falls, Va.) closed the scoring tear to make it 9-1.

The defense was just as strong as the offense as Terp seniors captains Chris Passavia (Stony Brook, N.Y.), Lee Zink (Rowayton, Conn.), Paul Gillette (Severna Park, Md.) and David Wagner (Severna Park, Md.) among with fellow defenders Gavin Webb (Upper Arlington, Ohio), Drew Virk (Ross, Calif.) and Tyler Hereth (Glastonbury, Conn.) allowed just one goal in the first half and limited preseason All-Americans Walid Hajj and Neal Goldman to just one assist in the game.

In goal, McGinnis was sensational in his first game with Maryland as he made 13 saves in the first 52 minutes before giving way to freshman Harry Alford (Washington, D.C.), who made three saves.

Maryland was a perfect 4-for-4 on man-up opportunities as Walters, Ian Healy, Smith and McGlone tallied extra-man goals. It was the first time since the season-opener last season vs. Duke, that Maryland scored four man-up goals.

The win was the Terps' 11th in a row in a season opener and moves Maryland to 75-3-1 in season openers.

Ritz' seven points were the most by a Terp since Mike Mollot had seven (five goals and two assists) vs. Towson on March 9, 2002.