10. 10 Years (Thursday 7:30pm Rams Head Live); 10,000 Maniacs (Wednesday & Thursday 8pm Rams Head on Stage); Korn (Tuesday 8pm Fillmore Silver Spring), Kelly Rowland & The Dream (Sunday 8pm Fillmore Silver Spring); Macy Gray (Thursday 7:30pm Birchmere); SWV (Friday 8pm Howard Theatre); Lonestar (Wednesday 8pm Strathmore); Trey Anastasio (Wednesday 8pm Kennedy Center); Shooter Jennings (Thursday 8pm State Theatre); Kenny Chesney/Eric Church/Eli Young Band (Saturday 5pm FedEx Field); Delfest feat. Del McCoury Band, Old Crow Medicine Show, Jerry Douglas, Carolina Chocolate Drops (Thursday-Sunday Allegany County Fairgrounds); Daft Punk “Random Access Memories”, Darius Rucker “True Believers” and 30 Seconds to Mars “LOVE LUST FAITH + DREAMS” available in stores/on iTunes (Tuesday)

As far as country music goes, Eric Church ain’t too bad.

There’s so much I’d like to see at Delfest. I hope you know how great Jerry Douglas is.

Or how great Carolina Chocolate Drops are.

Lot of people who want to prove how cool they are have been trashing Darius’ version of “Wagon Wheel.” Not among that group of people, the band that first turned Bob Dylan’s half song into a full song.

9. Greg Proops (Tuesday 8pm DC Improv), Godfrey (Thursday-Sunday DC Improv); Chris Hardwick (Saturday 6pm 9:30 Club); “The Hangover Part III“, “Epic” and “Fast & Furious 6” out in theaters (Friday); “Parker” available on Blu-Ray/DVD (Tuesday); Brew At The Zoo (Saturday & Sunday Maryland Zoo in Baltimore); “Arrested Development Season 4” debuts (Sunday 3am Netflix)

It’s kinda hard to remember just how great “The Hangover” ever was at this point. I THINK I’ll end up seeing the new one, but I’m not promising.

Also, you’ll be watching this video until 3am Sunday…

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The post Cantabene leads Stevenson to first ever NCAA Championship Game appeared first on We Never Stop Talking Baltimore Sports.

Stevenson jumped out to an early lead on the Sea Gulls, starting the game with a three-goal run. Less than two minutes into the game, at the 13:27 mark, Mark Pannenton scored for the Mustangs to begin the run. Pannenton blocked a pass by junior goalkeeper Alex Taylor and retrieved the ground ball for a one-on-one chance.

Freshman attackman Brady Dashiell, Salisbury’s leader with three goals, stopped the run with the Sea Gulls’ first goal to cut the lead; junior attackman Rhett DePol passed across the crease to an open Dashiell, who put the ball home in the right side of the cage. Dashiell and DePol both tallied four points to lead the Gulls, as DePol registered a team-high three assists.

The quarter ended with two goals from the Mustangs, as Salisbury entered the second quarter trailing, 5-1.

The Gulls took little time getting onto the scoreboard in the second, scoring two goals in the first two minutes of the period.

At the 14:05 mark, Dashiell had the ball near the right sideline, before dodging his defender, running to the crease and beating the Mustang’s keeper for his second goal. He then assisted DePol just 64 seconds later, passing the ball to DePol, who faked the goalie on the crease and scored low to cut the lead to 5-3.

After getting within two, the Sea Gulls gave up a four-goal run to the Mustangs to end the half. Chris Dashiell scored three during the run for Stevenson, and Salisbury entered halftime trailing, 9-3.

At the half, Salisbury was trailing in shots, 22-16, and faceoffs won, 2-of-6, but the Sea Gulls were successful on 5-of-7 clears.

Both teams scored only one goal in the third quarter, with Tyler Smith ripping a shot from 15 yards for the Sea Gulls, and the score entering the fourth quarter was 10-4.

While holding the Mustangs to the single score, the Gulls were unable to jump at the chance to gain some ground. “We did create some opportunities during that run,” Head Coach Jim Berkman said. “We just weren’t able to capitalize.”

To start the final quarter, Stevenson’s Tyler Reid scored at the 13:05 mark to increase the Mustang’s lead to 11-4, but two goals from the Sea Gulls cut the lead to five with just over six minutes remaining.

Brady Dashiell completed his hat trick by taking a pass from DePol and netting a shot from the right wing.

Smith tallied his second on a man-up chance; he took a pass from junior midfielder Greg Korvin and whizzed a low shot from 20 yards past the keeper.

The Mustangs scored again late to cap the game.

Taylor played all 60 minutes for the Gulls in the cage and made nine saves in the effort.

Despite the 2013 season coming to an end, the Sea Gulls were a young team this season that now has good experience moving forward. “There are some young guys that definitely got their feet wet and hopefully got some great experience,” Berkman said. “It will really pay dividends in the future.”

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With the win, the Terps (21-0) punched their ticket to a fifth-straight national semifinal and will face Syracuse Friday at Villanova Stadium. Aust recorded five goals and added two assists. The Sterling, Va., native also moved into third all-time in points (119) in single season history at Maryland.

After being stymied in the beginning of the Stony Brook match in the second round, the Terps wasted no time getting their attack rolling against the Blue Devils, notching the first two tallies of the game in the first seven minutes of play. Brooke Griffin and Halle Majorana put Maryland up with a pair of unassisted scores before Duke landed on the scoreboard with a goal at 20:25.

A pair of goals at 19:13 and 14:52 by Aust and fellow attacker Kristen Lamon extended the Terrapin lead to 4-1 before the two teams exchanged goals twice for a 6-3 score with five minutes remaining. The Terps would outscore Duke 2-1 down the stretch in the first half to carry a solid 8-4 cushion into the break.

Maryland preserved that momentum early in the second half, adding on to its four-goal lead with three early tallies in the stanza. Aust played a hand in all three, scoring goals at 26:30 and 22:44 and assisting on a Katie Schwarzmann score in-between.

Duke posted its first goal of the period with a Maddy Morissey score at 21:55 but Maryland compiled a devastating 3-0 run in-and-around the 17-minute mark – courtesy of goals from Schwarzmann, Griffin and Beth Glaros - to mount a 14-5 advantage with 15 minutes to play.

Duke turned up the heat with four goals in the final seven minutes of play, but Maryland would hold on for the 14-9 win, the last for eight Terrapin seniors at the Field Hockey & Lacrosse Complex.

Maryland benefited from a balanced attack with seven goal-scorers on the day. Griffin added three goals and two assists and Schwarzmann tallied a pair of scores to aid the attack.

Defensively, senior Kasey Howard recorded seven saves in the cage. Aust, Schwarzmann and Cummings combined for 10 ground balls. Cummings and fellow freshman Alice Mercer led the way with two caused turnovers each.

“Congratulations to Duke. It was a fun game, a hard-fought game and I don’t think you’d expect anything less when you get a Maryland-Duke rivalry,” head coach Cathy Reese said. “For us, we are thrilled to be in the position we are in. We’re excited and looking forward to being one of the final four teams standing and heading to the final four next week.”

Maryland – which is headed to its nation-leading 21st final four – will play fourth-seeded Syracuse next Friday in the national semifinals at Villanova Stadium in Villanova, Pa.

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The post I’m in on Hopkins joining conference, changing cable sports rules appeared first on We Never Stop Talking Baltimore Sports.

Dear Member of the Johns Hopkins Community:

In some circles, Johns Hopkins is known best for healing. In others, we are recognized for discovery or for the amazing achievements of our students.

In still others, the name “Johns Hopkins” means lacrosse, Homewood Field and 44 men’s national championships. As with healing, discovery and achievement, that is a very special association and one that we are determined to preserve.

I wrote to you in early March to say that the changing face of intercollegiate athletics and the immense growth in the sport of lacrosse had made it necessary for Johns Hopkins to consider a step it had never taken in 130 years of competition: foregoing our independent status and affiliating with a conference for men’s lacrosse.

It would be a big step, a departure from history and Blue Jay tradition. We would never take such a step lightly. I announced the formation, therefore, of a special committee to examine all aspects of the issue and to provide me with an informed recommendation.

I also invited you to participate in the process by sharing your views with the committee. I am pleased to say that more than 300 of our students, alumni, faculty and staff did so.

In the two months since it was formed, the committee has worked diligently to understand the landscape and to consider whether we should make a change. Its members and staff, in addition to considering your feedback, have consulted with faculty athletics representatives at other universities, with officials of a number of conferences, and with traditional Johns Hopkins rivals. They have compiled and analyzed relevant statistical information; they have engaged in detailed discussions with Athletics Director Tom Calder and Coach Dave Pietramala, A&S ’90.

The committee’s unanimous conclusion, transmitted to me last week, is that Johns Hopkins and its men’s lacrosse student-athletes would best be served by our seeking affiliation for men’s lacrosse only with an NCAA Division I conference. That conclusion was based on committee members’ conviction that such a move will provide our university and history’s most-successful lacrosse program the best opportunity for continued leadership at the highest level of intercollegiate competition. It was based on their conviction that joining a Division I conference for men’s lacrosse is the best course for our athletes, our program and our university, and that it can be done without compromise to our academic integrity or athletic traditions.

I agree with the committee’s analysis and have accepted its recommendations. Tom Calder and Dave Pietramala are also in agreement. Together, we intend to pursue an affiliation. As I mentioned in my March message, there already have been expressions of interest. I will report to you when there is a conclusion to these discussions.

The special committee’s report is available online here. To be clear, we intend, as previously announced, to compete as a Division I independent in women’s lacrosse. We remain deeply and philosophically committed to continued participation in NCAA Division III competition in all other sports.

The members of the special committee have invested a great deal of time and energy and done a wonderful job. On behalf of the entire university community, I want to express my most sincere appreciation to all the members, and especially to co-chairs Jerry Schnydman, A&S ’67, and Chris Watson, A&S ’05.

Sincerely,
Ronald J. Daniels

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10. ZZ Top (Sunday 7:30pm Pier Six Pavilion); The Band Perry (Saturday 5:30pm Merriweather Post Pavilion); Luke Bryan (Saturday 4pm Jiffy Lube Live); Infieldfest feat. Pitbull, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Chevelle, Florida Georgia Line, Afrojack (Saturday 12pm Pimlico), Goo Goo Dolls/Rodney Atkins (Friday 2pm Pimlico); Alkaline Trio (Friday 8pm Rams Head Live); Ghostface Killah (Tuesday 8pm Baltimore Soundstage); Lee Brice (Wednesday 9pm Rams Head Center Stage); Paramore (Saturday 8pm Fillmore Silver Spring); Mickey Hart Band (Tuesday 8pm Howard Theatre), Brian McKnight (Friday 8pm & 10:30pm Howard Theatre), Blind Boys of Alabama (Saturday 8pm Howard Theatre); Joe Bonamassa (Tuesday 8pm France-Merrick Performing Arts Center at The Hippodrome); Chicago (Wednesday 7:30pm Meyerhoff Symphony Hall); Youngblood Hawke (Wednesday 6pm U Street Music Hall); Chesapeake Bay Blues Festival feat. Bonnie Raitt, Mavis Staples, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue (Saturday & Sunday Sandy Point State Park); Anti-Flag (Monday 7:30pm DC9)

I haven’t seen Macklemore & Ryan Lewis yet. Looking forward to seeing what they bring to the table Saturday.

Chevelle is a rock and roll band I regularly find myself enjoying.

Goo Goo Dolls are a band I really used to find myself enjoying.

I’m going to the O’s game Sunday but I’m awfully tempted to duck out early to see Mavis.

9. Lewis Black (Sunday 8pm Sixth & I Historic Synagogue); Jackie “The Joke Man” Martling (Thursday 8pm Baltimore Comedy Factory); Aries Spears (Thursday-Sunday DC Improv); “Cloud Atlas” available on Blu-Ray/DVD (Tuesday); “Star Trek Into Darkness” out in theaters (Thursday); Preakness Hot Air Balloon Festival (Thursday-Saturday Turf Valley); Wine In The Woods (Saturday & Sunday Symphony Woods)

I’ll just go ahead and say “yes” to Lewis Black.

If they haven’t brought back Rachel Nichols to play the Green Girl in Star Trek I might boycott going.

(Continued on Page 2…)

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It was a “Bloody Sunday” indeed for the three Maryland teams in the NCAA Lacrosse Tournament. Sixth seeded Maryland was blown out by Cornell, upstart Towson was rocked at Ohio State and defending national champion Loyola fell to Duke in double overtime after coughing up a four goal second half advantage.

The rest of the NCAA Tournament isn’t going to be cancelled, it will just seem irrelevant to those of us in this area. (Other than the handful that will still wander to Byrd Stadium next Saturday to see Ohio State, Cornell, Syracuse and Yale, that is. I imagine the crowd size will make a Maryland/James Madison football game look like a packed house.) It is particularly disappointing considering the 2012 NCAA Championship Game was an all-Old Line State affair between the Greyhounds and Terrapins.

For the Tigers, the loss marked the end of a season that lasted two or three games longer than anyone could have expected after a 3-5 start. (Worse, a 3-5 start that included a loss to High Point-playing only their second game ever in program history and the first of only three wins all season for the Panthers.) Shawn Nadelen’s team made great strides in the CAA his second season as head coach and the blowout loss to the Buckeyes was to be expected by most. It would be hard for Towson fans to get away with labeling themselves as particularly disappointed with the result.

For the Hounds, the nature of their season-ending setback at the hands of the Blue Devils had to be considered particularly disappointing. Loyola had an 8-4 lead in the second half and appeared to have essentially clinched victory before Face-Off Specialist Blake Burkhart’s final minute goal was waived off because head coach Charley Toomey had called timeout just a split second earlier. Loyola was a legitimate contender to return to the Final Four, but the heartbreak shouldn’t be misconstrued as disappointment. What Loyola accomplished a season ago in Foxborough should have never been viewed as a measuring stick for the program’s success. It was a remarkable run unlikely to be accomplished with any sort of regularity. The Greyhounds had a very successful season (including their first win over Johns Hopkins since 1999) with a very tough end.

And then there’s the Terps. The same team that coming off two consecutive trips to the NCAA Championship Game was believed to be a legitimate national championship contender. After winning their rematch with the Greyhounds in Baltimore in February, the Terps took over the #1 ranking in both polls and held it almost exclusively until mid-April. Conversation within crowds of Maryland alums was set around the idea that this group was finally primed to claim the school’s first national championship since 1975.

1975…it seems more and more impossible every time I think about it. For what it’s worth, only eight schools have combined to win the 37 championships since Maryland last claimed lacrosse glory. Still, the drought remains staggering for the flagship university in the state most closely associated with the sport.

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