Maryland owns an overwhelming 20-2 advantage over Loyola Maryland, but both sides have split the past four meetings. The Terps have won all five games at home in the series, while the Greyhounds will make their first visit to College Park since May 13, 1958.
No. 19 Loyola (6-5) has fared much better on the road (3-1) than at Ridley Athletic Complex (3-4). The 18th-ranked offense in Division I – a unit that averages 11.8 goals per game – has frequently been led by Zach Herreweyers. The junior attackman is tied for third in Division I in goals with 36, ranks sixth in goals per game at 3.3, and has registered seven hat tricks in 11 starts.
No. 3 Maryland (9-1) has won eight straight contests since a 10-6 loss at then-No. 14 Yale on Feb. 21.
A defense that leads the nation in fewest goals per game at 4.8 has earned seven Big Ten Conference Defensive Player of the Week honors, including four by Casey Ikeda.
The senior defenseman collected his fourth award after causing two turnovers and posting an assist in Saturday's 12-5 victory over Penn State.
Here are a few factors that could play a role in the outcome at Byrd Stadium in College Park on Wednesday at 7 p.m.
1) Offense vs. defense. The Greyhounds have scored at least 12 goals in four of their past five games, and five starters have scored no fewer than 15 goals each. But coach Charley Toomey readily admitted that the Terps defense will be the best opposition Loyola will have faced this season. Maryland sophomore defenseman Tim Muller has seamlessly replaced seven-game starter and junior Matt Dunn (Loyola Blakefield), and redshirt junior goalkeeper Kyle Bernlohr leads the country in goals-against average (4.49) and save percentage (.694).
"I think one thing they do very well is they really force you to low-angled shots, and Kyle Bernlohr is gobbling up those low-angled shots," Toomey said. "He doesn't give up bad goals. So whether they force you to weak-handed shots or keep you down the alleys away from your strengths, they're strong, they keep you going to certain areas of the field that they want you to, and they do a great job of supporting the ball behind the net. They don't give you easy looks, and they're rangy defensively."
2) Transition defense vs. transition offense. One trademark of the Terps defense has been an almost effortless switch from offense. Part of the unit's success has been the ability of several offensive midfielders like juniors Bryan Cole and Henry West to play defense. That adjustment will be tested by the Greyhounds, who love to play fast and force the issue in transition. In Saturday's 17-7 rout of Navy, they got one goal each from senior defenseman Pat Frazier, sophomore long-stick midfielder Ryan Fournier, freshman long-stick midfielder Zac Davliakos and freshman short-stick defensive midfielder Brian Begley.
"They run really well," Maryland coach John Tillman said. "All you have to do is look at that Navy game. I think they had three poles score, they had another short-stick defender score, I think their faceoff guy took two shots. They can push the ball in a hurry, and you have to do a good job. You can't let people get behind you. You've got to get in and defend the first 20 seconds or you're going to be in trouble."
3) Faceoff vs. faceoff. With Terps senior Charlie Raffa nursing an injury in his right shoulder/upper arm area, it would appear that Loyola has the advantage at the X. Sophomore Graham Savio ranks 12th in the country at 60.3 percent (141 of 234) and out-dueled Navy's duo of sophomore Brady Dove and freshman Joe Varello to win 15 of 26 draws. But Toomey said the Greyhounds are preparing as if Raffa (62.5 percent on 70-of-112) will play, and even if he doesn't, they don't have nearly as much information on juniors Jon Garino Jr. (57.4 percent on 35 of 61) or Andrew Walsh (46.2 percent, 6 of 13).
"The challenge with the other guys is that the third guy would become the second, and we've only got film of him taking six reps," Toomey said, referring to Walsh. "So you really don't have a lot of film of No. 2 and No. 3 and certainly No. 3. So in terms of preparation, it's a little more of a challenge. We have a lot of film and a good understanding of what Charlie's going to bring to the table. Truthfully, what Charlie brings to the table is true grit. Once the ball gets out, he's very athletic and he pushes you off the ball. He's as good as they come."