Postscript

Moments before No. 2 Stevenson's home contest against No. 8 Rochester Institute of Technology at Mustang Stadium in Owings Mills, senior midfielder Nick Rossi confided in sophomore midfielder Michael Crowe that he was feeling antsy about taking the field for the first time this season. “I was a little nervous before the game today,” Rossi admitted after Stevenson nipped the Tigers, 12-11, in overtime on the strength of sophomore attackman Mark Pannenton's goal with 1:49 left in the extra session.

No. 4 Stevenson not only defeated No. 12 and reigning national champion Salisbury, 12-6, in a NCAA tournament semifinal to advance to the program's first title game, but the Mustangs may also have banished some ghosts of the past. Stevenson had been escorted out of the postseason in two of the past three seasons by the Sea Gulls, who still command a 10-6 advantage in their series with their former Capital Athletic Conference foe. What made Sunday's triumph even more special is that the Mustangs had been evicted from the Final Four in 2010 and 2012 by Salisbury, a program that has captured 10 national titles.

Loyola attackman Eric Lusby is on pace for a career year, and he may just have a season-ending knee injury to thank for his surge. The fifth-year senior tore the anterior cruciate ligament and the medial collateral ligament in his right knee in an NCAA Tournament first-round loss to Cornell in 2010 and a slower-than-expected healing process forced him to abandon last season. This spring, he has paired with junior attackman Mike Sawyer to spark the No. 8 Greyhounds to their first 7-0 start since 2002, and the Severna Park native and graduate is enjoying every minute of it. “I think it was a tremendous help, taking a step back, taking a year off and not playing,” Lusby said of redshirting 2011.

Maryland's 2013 season could be compared to an exhilarating amusement-park ride that kept passengers highly entertained through the first half before sputtering out and leaving riders wanting more. After back-to-back appearances in the national title game, the Terps fell well short of that goal this spring, falling to Cornell, 16-8, in the first round of the NCAA tournament Sunday. With the loss, Maryland extended its national crown drought to 38 years. As frustrating as that is, however, coach John Tillman said the program will not lower the bar. “Our expectations will always be the same,” he said.

Scott Jones finished with two goals in No. 2 seed UMBC's 19-8 loss to No. 3 seed Albany in Wednesday night's America East tournament final, but his impact was barely felt at UMBC Stadium in Catonsville. Jones, who entered the contest leading the Retrievers in both goals (34) and points (38), scored the game's first goal just 27 seconds into the first quarter. But he didn't score his second one until 12:30 remained in the fourth quarter. The Great Danes shadowed Jones with a short-stick defensive midfielder, essentially daring him to dodge - which is not his strength.

Johns Hopkins' first midfield got its first goals of the season, but pardon juniors John Ranagan and John Greeley and sophomore Rob Guida if they decline to celebrate. Ranagan and Guida each scored in the No. 2 Blue Jays' 8-6 win against No. 18 Delaware at Homewood Field in Baltimore on Tuesday evening, but the first line continues to struggle with its shooting. Ranagan went 1-for-6, Guida - who added an assist - was 1-for-4, and Greeley went 0-for-3. For the season, Ranagan is 1-for-14, Guida is 1-for-8, and Greeley is 0-for-7.

Mike Sawyer never went anywhere. The Loyola senior attackman may have blended into the background because of the development of junior attackman Justin Ward (team-leading 28 assists and 54 points) and the play of the team's defense, but aside from sitting out two games due to an undisclosed injury, he toiled away. But Sawyer, a 2012 Tewaaraton Award finalist and a nominee again this year, picked an opportune to re-establish himself on the national scene. His three goals powered the No. 7 Greyhounds to an 8-4 victory over No. 13 Johns Hopkins at Homewood Field in Baltimore Saturday.