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Last Saturday Virginia and Maryland played the longest game in Division I historyseven overtimes (85 minutes). Cavalier goalie Adam Ghitelman was spectacular in the cage and recorded a career-high 22 saves, the most by a Cavalier in five years. He turned aside six Terrapin shots in the overtime periods when every save is important. This Saturday Virginia faces 10th-ranked North Carolina in the Big City Classic at Giants Stadium in New Jersey. Ghitelman talks about his play in the win over Maryland that earned him National and ACC Player of the Week honors, as well as looking ahead to the clash with the Tar Heels.
Question: Coach Starsia called your performance last Saturday against Maryland your coming out party. Would you agree with that assessment?
Ghitelman: Yes, I would agree. It was probably my best performance of my career to date. I have been waiting for a breakout performance against a top-10 team like Maryland and I was happy that I could to get it done in a game like that.
Question: How much does having a performance like that in a big game like Maryland where it went into so many overtimes do for your confidence?
Ghitelman: It’s an all-time high. I am ready to carry it into the coming weeks and into the ACC (Tournament) and into the playoffs.
Question: Your 22 saves against Maryland is a remarkable number. Have you ever had that many saves any level of your lacrosse-playing career?
Ghitelman: Actually never. I think my highest ever was 20 before that.
Question: What kind of game was that?
Ghitelman: We were playing actually the eventual the number-one team in the country, back in high school (during) my freshman year, Manhasset, and we lost to them in overtime and I had 20 saves in that game.
Question: Obviously once you get into the overtime situations, every save is a big save. Are there any from Saturday that stand out in your head?
Ghitelman: I guess the last one before we scored, on Ryan Young. He is one of my best friends. That’s something that I will remember the rest of my lifejust being able to do it against him was something special.
Question: What was about that particular shot that enabled you to make the save? Did you see the ball come out of the stick well or did you read it well or what?
Ghitelman: He kind of came in on the crease and dove across it and I was just trying to match up with his stick and was able to make the save; there was nothing special about it but I guess it was a pretty big save there that led to last goal of the game.
Question: Speaking of big plays in overtime, you had that play where you had the penalty. Mark Wade comes in and makes a big save. What was your thought process as that play developed and how excited were you for Mark to get that save?
Ghitelman: It was a slide to the ball and they left (Ryan) Young wide open, I figured that if he catches this ball and has time to come in on me he’s going to put it in chances are. One of my instincts is to just run out there and the give him as much of a push as I could.
I had all the confidence in the world that (Mark), who’s a great player and could probably start anywhere in the country … was going to come in and make a play.
Question: What was going through your mind as the first overtime went to the second overtime and on to the third overtime and so on?
Ghitelman: I was just in awe of how special the game was. I remember one time, maybe the third or the fourth (overtime), when I ran to the wrong side of the field. It all sort of ended up meshing together with all the end of the periods, the time outs, it was just a lot of mix up, but a game like that is just something that I will never forget.
Question: Did you have any idea in your mind that this might be the longest game of all time?
Ghitelman: (laughing) I didn’t know because there have been so many years of lacrosse that I have no idea. But I was definitely thinking though that this is an extremely long game. I really was questioning if it was ever going to end.
Question: Coach Starsia and several players talked afterward about how they were worn out after the game. Were you tired either mentally or physically at the end of the game?
Ghitelman: Well, you know what, I think I probably was, but I was so excited about winning that I don’t think that I ever really noticed how tired I was. I’d have to say that I was more mentally tired than I was physically after a game like that. It takes so much stress mentally to get through all those overtimes; even the regular part of the game was tough.
Question: Last year you had a rough game against Maryland and you were replaced by Bud Petit. How did being able to watch prepare you to be able to play at such a high level this year?
Ghitelman: Taking a back seat behind Bud was an experience that helped me out tremendously coming into this year. It was tough getting put on the bench, but it was definitely a positive thing for me going forward. I learned a lot from him and still continue to learn a lot from him. I try to talk to him as much as I can and he’s had a great effect on me.
Question: Would you say you get a different perspective from being on the sidelines watching and that was something that probably helped you this season? Things such as watching and seeing how plays develop, how defense reacts, things like that?
Ghitelman: Not being stuck in the goal, I had a chance to actually learn a lot about the game; more than I ever had. Just be able to watch Bud and how he controlled the defense and how he reacted to things. Being able to take a step back and just watch from the side was something that definitely helped me out.
Question: This Saturday the team plays North Carolina at Giants Stadium in the Big City Classic. That’s not too far from your home on Long Island. Are you a Jets or a Giants fan?
Ghitelman: I’m a Giants fan for sure.
Question: What it’s like to be playing in their home stadium?
Ghitelman: I can’t wait. It’s going to be amazing. I’ll have a bunch of family, a bunch of friends, my whole varsity lacrosse team is going to be there, so I’m going to try to put my best foot forward and bring another (big) performance this weekend.
Question: What are your thoughts on facing North Carolina? They have a pretty potent offense as you know.
Ghitelman: Yes they do. You know it’s going to be a really tough test for our defense, but I’m sure we’ll be ready. We’ll give them our best and I’m sure they will give us theirs. I’m confident in our defense; we’ve been getting better every week.
Question: You have Ken Clausen, Ryan Nizolek and Matt Kelly in front of you. Talk about how beneficial it is to have older experience guys like that get you settled down and get into the flow of things.
Ghitelman: I would say a bunch of those guys have a lot of playing experience under their belts. Playing behind them is something that’s very helpful with guys that are so good like that. They definitely help me out an incredible amount and you can’t ask for a better defense right now. I’m very happy with how they’re playing and we’re just going to keep getting better and better as the season goes on.
Question: What do you think it’s going to take to beat North Carolina on Saturday?
Ghitelman: We’re going to have to win faceoffs. And I’d say we have to win the goalie battle, too. Our offense is going to have to step it up a little better than last week, but I’m completely confident that they will. If we control those aspects of the game, I think we will win the game.