BLOG: Maryland - Hopkins to Meet for 105th Time
4/25/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Lacrosse
By Eli Davis, Maryland Athletics Student Assistant
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - More than just in-state bragging rights are on the line when No. 2 Maryland and Johns Hopkins clash under the lights of Capital One Field at Byrd Stadium.
A win on Saturday night means the No. 2 Maryland men's lacroose team (12-1, 4-0 B1G) would clinch sole possession of the Big Ten regular season crown as well as capping off an undefeated mark in conference play.
“That's one of the goals that we started off with coming into the season, to be the regular season champion and to win the Big Ten,” freshman long-stick midfielder Matt Neufeldt said. “That would just be a great momentum swing for us.”
Although there is some discrepancy between the two lacrosse powerhouses as to just how many times they have squared off (Maryland records account for 104 games while Hopkins counts 111), no one can deny it is the greatest rivalry in the sport.
“Just historically it's always been a huge game,” senior attackman Jay Carlson said. “It definitely has a different feel to it compared to all other games. All the seniors and older guys know what it means to play this game and we try to bring the freshmen and younger guys up to that level.”
Neufeldt has grasped the importance of the game throughout the week.
“You can just tell how badly they want this win,” Neufeldt said. “It's very motivating. It's what we want to do for the older guys.”
Hopkins comes to College Park with a high-powered offense, scoring double-digit goals in 10 games this year. Meanwhile, the Terps top-ranked defense has only surrounded double-digit goals in two contests. Maryland will look to extend its win streak to 12, which would match the longest in program history.
“It's certainly going to be a big challenge, but to get a win over Hopkins means we've done something special because that is a good team,” Tillman said. “I think that would help our confidence going into late April and May. You really want to be playing your best lacrosse.”
New to the storied rivalry is the addition of “The Rivalry Trophy.” The annual regular season victor will hoist the 25-pound trophy – a Maryland blue crab made of reclaimed wood from the Chesapeake Bay.
“I think it looks pretty cool,” Carlson said. “Being from Baltimore and the state of Maryland I think the crab is a good representation for the trophy. Hopefully we snag it for the first year.”
