After a three-game absence linked to a right shoulder/arm injury suffered against Penn State on April 4, faceoff specialist Charlie Raffa returned to open Maryland's game against Big Ten foe Johns Hopkins Saturday night.
The senior won 60 percent (12-of-20) of his draws and collected three ground balls in that 15-12 loss. But after absorbing a few big hits, he was on the sideline for much of the fourth quarter in which the No. 6 Terps (12-2) lost 7-of-8 faceoffs.
Coach John Tillman said Tuesday that he had yet to assess Raffa's availability for No. 2 seed Maryland's conference tournament semifinal against No. 3 seed Ohio State (10-5) on Thursday at 8 p.m. at Byrd Stadium in College Park.
"Charlie's been banged up a lot and what we have every week is, we have a plan on whether Charlie can go or he can't go or if he's going to be limited," Tillman said. "We put it together and we just have to kind of figure out based on his feedback and our trainer's feedback, and the coaches have to sit back and figure out what is best for our team, what's best for Charlie and his well-being and his long-term health and obviously what's best for the team."
With Raffa at less than 100 percent, the spotlight would seem to shift to junior Jon Garino Jr. and freshman Andrew Walsh. Garino won just 28.6 percent (2-of-7) of his draws and Walsh lost all three of his faceoffs against the Blue Jays.
But Garino and Walsh combined to 45.8 percent of the draws and scoop up six ground balls in the Terps' 10-9 overtime win at the Buckeyes on April 18. They fared decently against Ohio State fifth-year senior Christopher May, who ranks ninth in Division I in faceoff percentage (62.2 percent on 168-of-270) and eighth in ground balls per game (7.7).
Tillman said the duo has the confidence of their teammates and coaches.
"I don't think it puts a lot of pressure on them," he said. "I think it creates a great opportunity for them. I think that's the way our kids look at it. … All three of those guys come to practice and work hard every day and they would love to be the guy. If Charlie can't go, those guys are fired up to get in there and try to help the team win and try to get that competition and get that opportunity."