By Eli Davis, Maryland Athletics Student Assistant
1.) The scoring can come from a variety of places:
A year after relying heavily on the scoring ability of Mike Chanenchuk, this year's team does not appear to have a single go-to player. However, with a wealth of talent throughout the roster, it does not seem to be a problem.
Head Coach John Tillman is fielding perhaps the deepest squad he has had at his disposal since arriving in College Park. Every offensive starter has tallied a goal this season and all six are capable of scoring in bunches on any given day.
Henry West has been the biggest surprise thus far, following up a strong finish last season with five tallies in the goal column already, good for second on the team. He has shown the ability to create his own shots and beat the goalie with his feet set or on the run.
Because there is not a single player to focus on to do the majority of the scoring, the Terps are a hard team to game plan for. If there is a game when Rambo and West are not clicking, Maltz and Joe LaCascio are more than capable of picking up the load. This team has a variety of weapons that have the ability to wreak havoc in the inaugural Big Ten season.
2.) Kyle Bernlohr can lead this team:
Perhaps the biggest question mark coming into the 2015 season was who would replace four-year starter and All-American goalie Niko Amato. Kyle Bernlohr has answered the call and has been nothing short of spectacular.
In his first career start, Bernlohr made 12 saves and held a Navy team to just one goal a week after the Midshipmen tallied 21 scores. Bernlohr was tabbed Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week for his efforts.
The Ohio native currently ranks fifth nationally in goals against average (6.00) and eighth nationally (1st in the Big Ten) in save percentage (.640), serving as a steady force for a staunch Terrapin defense.
3.) Sophomore Matt Rambo has evolved:
As a freshman, the highly touted Matt Rambo was seen as a somewhat one-dimensional player. Although he was second on the team in goals with 30 (only behind All-American Mike Chanenchuk), he lacked in assists with just six.
The improved and well-rounded Rambo has already tallied a team-high four assists and has notched one in all three games for the Terps (2-1). Last season it was common to see the lefty attackman put his head down and try to bully his way towards the net, but his style has changed.
With the ability to initiate the offense from anywhere on the field, Rambo has been dodging with his head up, drawing double teams and dishing the ball. The chemistry between Rambo, veteran Jay Carlson and Syracuse-transfer Dylan Maltz has been impressive thus far and will only continue to evolve as the season unfolds.
