COLLEGE PARK - In the NCAA Division I men's soccer tournament, Noah Palmer has been relatively idle.
The Maryland goalkeeper has registered just five saves in 1-0 victories over American University and Saint Louis, while his defensive teammates have adeptly fended off one opposing charge after another.
Today, at Ludwig Field, that trend is expected to change in dramatic fashion.
"He could be called on heavily in the [Connecticut] game," said Terrapins coach Sasho Cirovski. 'They're probably the most talented team in the country. We have to be ready because this is going to be a classic."
Additional seating behind one of the goals has been installed to accommodate an anticipated overflow crowd for the quarterfinal matchup at 1 p.m. that will produce one of the participants in next week's semifinals in Dallas.
Despite Thursday's snowfall, the pitch is expected to be in good condition after being covered by a tarpaulin.
"I definitely expect to see the ball more," said Palmer, a sophomore from Williamsburg, Va., who has been Maryland's No. 1 keeper since the fourth game of his freshman year. "But our defense has been playing really well recently. It's a lot stronger than the first time we played Connecticut."
The Huskies (17-5) beat the Terrapins (19-4) in Storrs, Conn., on a rain-soaked field nearly two months ago, 2-0. Their three leading scorers, Damani Ralph (18 goals, five assists), Cesar Cuellar (15 goals, three assists) and Leandro de Oliveira (three goals, seven assists), all had a hand in the scoring.
"It was a tough atmosphere," Palmer said. "A big crowd, cold and rainy. We played OK, contended well, but it just wasn't happening. They got good goals, but they could have been prevented."
Cirovski said his defenders "made critical mistakes against UConn. They showed a little bit of naivete, a little inexperience against quality forwards. Since then, we've been pretty stingy."
That's why Palmer could be a key figure for the Terrapins, and he relishes the challenge of attempting to improve his team's home record to 13-0.
"You don't want to lose to a team that recruited you," he said.
"We beat Virginia and William & Mary [two other teams that recruited him]. It's a pride issue. You want to prove you chose the right school."
Palmer picked Maryland because of its proximity to his home, the coach, the facilities and the possibility of contending for a starting position as a freshman.
He went 11-7-1 in his first year with six shutouts and a 1.06 goals against average, which has fallen to 0.76 this season. He has an 82 percent save percentage.
Cirovski calls him "one of our emotional leaders and one of the guys we need to have a big game. He's playing his best soccer at the right time. He's capable of making big saves. He showed that in the [Atlantic Coast Conference] tournament."
Said Palmer: "I like to lead by example, not necessarily by pumping everyone. I'm one of the younger guys and I get people fired up by making a big play."