COLLEGE PARK, Md. – Colgate fans should be hard-pressed to show too much disappointment with the 11-6 loss to No. 3 Maryland here Tuesday night.
 
Three games into the 2019 season, the No. 16 Raiders continue to open eyes and impress the experts throughout the lacrosse world.
 
Colgate picked up two victories in an opening stretch of three road games, including a sizzling 12-9 triumph over then No. 10 Syracuse back on Feb. 8. The Raiders now have the week off before hosting Hobart next Tuesday.
 
On a chilly late afternoon and early evening in College Park, the host Terrapins started fast – kind of. The teams were scoreless for more than 10 minutes on the clock until Maryland put four on the board in the last 4:40, highlighted by two goals in the closing 14 seconds.
 
Colgate finally found the net three times in the second quarter. Mike Hawkins scored twice, his first two goals of the season, and Griffin Brown found the range for his fifth of the season. But Maryland led 9-3 at intermission.
 
Colgate then played its best lacrosse in the second half, outscoring Maryland 3-2 on fourth quarter goals from Nicky Petkevich, Sam Cleveland and Brian Minicus.
 
Petkevich now has a team-leading nine goals for the season, matching his total from all of last year. Cleveland's goal was his sixth of the season and Minicus pocketed his second.
 
Connor Mullen posted a season-high 13 saves, but it wasn't enough to prevent the Terrapins from winning their fourth in four games.
 
Bottom Line
No. 3 Maryland 11, No. 16 Colgate 6
 
Won-Lost Records
• Colgate is now 2-1.
• Maryland improved to 4-0.
 
Raider Facts & Figures
• John Donohue had a big day for the Raiders, turning in career highs with three caused turnovers and four ground balls.
• Donohue had two caused turnovers at Syracuse and he leads the team with five.
• Jack Donaghue also picked up four ground balls to set his collegiate best.
• The Raiders turned the ball over six times in that first quarter but finished with 15, three fewer than Maryland.
• Cleveland assisted on the Hawkins goal that put the Raider on the board. Cleveland now has 65 career assists and owns seventh place all alone on the Colgate chart.
• Maryland won the 2017 national championship. The Terps have reached the national semifinals five straight years and seven out of eight under head coach John Tillman.
 
From the Source
• Colgate head coach Matt Karweck: (On the first three games) "This trip in particular – we had to miss a little bit of school, which we don't love – but this was a great test for us. We're going to learn so much of what it takes to be great, and that's going to prepare us well for the Patriot League.
 
"If these three games make us better for the league, then we accomplished the mission. And I know our guys have that mindset."
 
(On the game) "If you throw the ball away, you don't win games; it's as simple as that. We didn't get any flow early and we put ourselves in a hole. Credit Maryland's defense because they were sticky and their offense was sharp – that's what they do. There's a reason why they are in the final four each year. Our hats are off to Coach Tillman and the way he runs his program. He manages the game really well.
 
"We cleared the ball better; that was an emphasis. And we were sticky on defense. If you hold Maryland to two in a half, you're doing some good things. Our defense played phenomenal and Connor was great in the goal, but we've got to get off to a better start. The fact is we stayed in it and had a chance at the end. One or two more in the back of the net and we had a shot."
 
Gate Grab Bag
• Attendance inside Capital One Field at Maryland Stadium was 1,555.
 
Up Next
• Colgate is off this weekend and welcomes Hobart for its home opener next Tuesday.
• The Statesmen are 2-0 with a home date Friday against No. 4 Cornell.
• Faceoff from Crown Field at Andy Kerr Stadium is 4 p.m., with the Patriot League Network carrying all the action.