Pat Young wanted more and found it with Maryland
At UMBC, where Young had spent the previous three seasons, he was the star. He had a green light to go to the goal basically whenever he wanted. There were no shots he didn't like and few opportunities he turned down.
But on this cold winter day in February, the Terps beat High Point and Young had no goals or assists. He took just one shot and collected one ground ball.
“He reminded me to trust him, to stick with the game plan,” Young said. “He told me they were going to need me at the end of the year when other teams run out of gas because of the depth we have. I'm a big believer in staying with the plan, and I guess the Syracuse game was what Coach [Reppert] was talking about.”
Last Saturday, Young scored four goals in the Terps' 13-7 NCAA quarterfinal win over the Orange. He was the Young of old, the 6-foot-1, 205-pound middie with the quick jab step and hard right-handed shot.
As the Terps play Brown today in an NCAA semifinal, the Bears must find a way to stop Maryland attackmen Matt Rambo, Colin Heacock (Boys' Latin) and Dylan Maltz and midfielders Bryan Cole and Connor Kelly. Young has added another dimension to the offense this season. He gives the Terps' second midfield a top scoring threat.
“It's an advantage for Maryland that he's on that second midfield,” ESPN analyst Paul Carcaterra said. “Pat Young at UMBC was used to dodging a pole every single game. So he's creating opportunities now for those other guys on the second midfield. ... Maryland essentially has two midfields, and a second midfield that is not just window dressing. They're out there to make plays, and they're real strong offensive players.”
Playing on the second midfield was a trade-off Young was willing to make this season. He had great success at UMBC, scoring 54 goals over his sophomore and junior seasons, but the Retrievers weren't even close to winning the America East Conference, much less securing a bid to the NCAA tournament.
Young wanted more. Nearly a year ago, he asked then-UMBC coach Don Zimmerman for his release, and Young visited Rutgers, Virginia and Maryland before making a decision. The process caused Young some anguish.
“The toughest part of the whole process was the meeting with Coach Zimmerman,” Young said. “We have a really good relationship and he showed me a lot of tough love, the kind I was raised on and used to getting at home. I was fortunate to play for such a legend.
“But I wanted something that was bigger than me. I wanted to be part of a tradition. I wanted to go to a place where they had a chance to play in the final four and get a shot at a national championship. So I can't say it was an adjustment to be on the second midfield. I kind of expected it because of the overall talent at Maryland.”
Young apparently left his pride on the Catonsville campus at UMBC. He fits in well with the Terps, a team with a blue-collar approach. In fact, Young is one of the most well-liked players on the team.
“He is a very positive guy and that trickles down,” said Cole, Young's roommate for away games. “It seems like he has been here for four years. He just kind of slid into the chemistry we have going. With transfers, you don't know what you're going to get. But he has been a tremendous asset.”
Said Maryland coach John Tillman: “It's always hard to be the first-year guy, and I am sure he has been frustrated at times with the scheme ... because it was new to him. But his approach has really been about this program being bigger than him, and he wanted to fill whatever role necessary to help us win.”
Young has challenged himself and succeeded against better competition in the Big Ten Conference, and in Maryland's nonconference schedule, which included North Carolina and Notre Dame.
He has had to bring his best every week. But today, it's different. A Ewing, N.J., native, he gets to play in front of many home fans at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.
“We have a ton of talent [at Maryland] and have been working hard to get to this point, and now it's just another day of work,” Young said. “Ever since I came here, my teammates have welcomed me with open arms. I wanted to be a part of something like this, and it's finally happening. It all has worked out well.”
For both Young and Maryland.
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