The first round of the NCAA Division I tournament was marked by three teams that avenged regular-season losses.
Albany redeemed a 16-9 loss to Cornell on Feb. 28 with a 19-10 thumping of the No. 8 seed Big Red on Saturday. Johns Hopkins made amends for a 16-15 overtime setback to Virginia on March 21 by walloping the No. 7 seed Cavaliers, 19-7, on Sunday. And No. 6 seed Maryland avenged a 10-6 loss to Yale on Feb. 21 with an 8-7 decision over the Bulldogs on Saturday.
Now the Terps (13-3) get a quarterfinal date with No. 3 seed North Carolina (13-3) on Sunday at 2:30 p.m. at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis. The Tar Heels absorbed a 10-8 setback to Maryland on March 21. So is coach John Tillman worried about the revenge trend continuing in the quarterfinals?
"It's tough sometimes when you go into the rematch because teams change and you're really focused on yourself, but you also have to know the team you're playing," he said Tuesday. "Sometimes you might make too many changes based on the other team. Other times, you don't want to change because maybe it worked the last time. So there's definitely some discussion you need to have as a staff and even with your players to make sure that you are true to who you are, but that you also have a little better sense of a team just because you have played them and they might know you pretty well. What are some things we did last time that worked for us, maybe didn't work, maybe gave us problems?
"I don't think at this time of year that the motivation thing is much of a factor. Everybody wants to move forward, and I think both teams are just looking at this as a great opportunity."
The Terps defeated the Tar Heels in the regular season courtesy of five goals from senior midfielder Joe LoCascio, 11 saves from redshirt junior goalkeeper Kyle Bernlohr, and 15 faceoff wins in 22 attempts from senior Charlie Raffa.
Tillman sounded optimistic that Raffa – who won eight of 17 faceoffs Saturday, including six of 10 in the second half – will be healthy enough to take the majority of the draws against North Carolina.
"I think going forward, I would expect to see him on Sunday," Tillman said. "You got a heavy dose of him on [Saturday]. We weren't sure what was going to happen, but I really am proud of Charlie. I thought he got better and the game went on. I thought that in the fourth quarter when we needed some possessions, he really got them. Charlie means a lot to us just on so many different levels. I'm not sure I've been around a team where just the energy one guy gives off to the rest of the team is just so impactful.
"He plays so hard and plays with a lot of energy, and I think our guys pick up on that. That really helped us in the fourth quarter when we got a few extra possessions. I think we got into a rhythm, and that was really helpful. I'm optimistic that he'll be back there on Sunday. As a senior, I think part of his motivation is to not let this thing end."