Freshman long-stick midfielder Matt Neufeldt is delighted to wear the No. 28 jersey for Maryland, and the designation is intentional.
Neufeldt succeeded Michael Ehrhardt, who wore No. 28 for four years. Ehrhardt, who recorded 170 ground balls and 68 caused turnovers in his career, was a United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association second-team All American as a close defenseman in 2013 and a first-team All-American as a long-stick midfielder last season.
So one can see why Neufeldt is proud to wear No. 28.
"It's the greatest honor that I could ever imagine because he was a two-time All-American, a first-teamer last year, a team captain," Neufeldt said Tuesday. "So just to get handed down that number, they truly believe in me, and that's really helped my confidence."
Neufeldt said Ehrhardt has been in contact with him all season and has offered whatever assistance he can to further the rookie's development.
"Michael has reached out to me all year long, giving me tips on what to do, how to get better," Neufeldt said. "He stays updated with all of the games. He's constantly helping me and giving me feedback. You can see how great of a guy he is."
The Terps, who are tied for No. 2 in the latest Cascade/Maverik media poll with North Carolina and are 12-1 overall and 4-0 in the Big Ten, have been giving certain numbers to create a sense of tradition and history. Sophomore defenseman Tim Muller wears the No. 36 jersey previously donned by 2013 first-team All-American long-stick midfielder Jesse Bernhardt, and defenseman Goran Murray, who is sitting out his senior campaign to focus on his academics, wore the No. 44 jersey made popular by 2011 second-team All-American defenseman Brett Schmidt.
"It's something we've started to do here," coach John Tillman said. "We've tried to pass down some numbers from some really good players to some young players. … Michael Ehrhardt was such a great player and leader for us, and Matt felt like it was a big honor to wear Michael's number. It was something he took a lot of pride in and still does. He's very humbled by it, and it's something he's tried to do in every game and every day in practice, trying to keep that standard high for his number."
The move appears to be working. Neufeldt leads Maryland in ground balls with 40 and caused turnovers with 13 in his debut on the Division I level. But he said he doesn't feel any pressure to maintain the level of success that Ehrhardt set last spring.
"I don't really see the comparison because we are two completely different people," Neufeldt said. "I just view it as there's a certain standard tied with having that number that you've got to produce and you have high expectations, but it's all fun and games. It just comes naturally that you have that number, you can produce, and that's what you've got to do."