By Eli Davis, Maryland Athletics Communications
Although the rivalry between Maryland and Johns Hopkins has well-eclipsed the century mark, for the second straight year more than in-state bragging rights and claiming possession of The Rivalry Trophy – a blue crab made of reclaimed wood from the Chesapeake Bay – are on the line.
A win on Saturday at Homewood Field in Baltimore would clinch the Big Ten regular season title outright for the Terrapins. The game is set to begin at 2 pm and will be broadcast live on ESPNU.
“We don't like to look too much into the rivalry aspect of it, but we certainly understand the importance of the game to our alumni and fans,” senior midfielder Bryan Cole said. “The way we see it is it is just another team on the schedule who wants to take something from us that we want.”
Since starting the season 1-2, head coach John Tillman's squad has been clicking on all cylinders during their 10-game winning streak. Coming off a year when the Terps boasted the number one defense in the country, led by All-American goalie Kyle Bernlohr, this year's team has surrendered double-digit goals just twice all season while holding three-straight opponents scoreless for a period of 20 minutes or more.
The defensive numbers should come as no surprise for fans in College Park, who have become accustomed to the locked-down style employed each week by defensive coordinator Kevin Conry.
“Whatever they try to throw at us, Coach Conry will have us well prepared,” redshirt senior defenseman Greg Danseglio said of the Hopkins offense. “It really just comes down to the defensive unit executing on game day.”
Matching the defensive intensity has been Maryland's goal scoring, led by junior attackman Colin Heacock's 30-goal mark. And while Cole has chipped in with a pair of game-winning goals and Matt Rambo leads the way in points, there has been no need to lean on a single player.
The Terps have received consistent scoring from the both 'red' and 'gold' midfield lines, as well as the attack unit, with all six offensive starters registering at least one hat trick.
“It takes the pressure off,” Cole said. “We don't have to look at one guy or two guys and say, 'We need you to have a big day today.' You never know who it can be coming from. It definitely gives defenses a little bit of trouble.”
A win on Saturday will result from a season's culmination of defensive prowess and offensive productivity, which will surely lead to coveted momentum entering post-season play.
“It is important to look at the present right now and focus on winning the Big Ten regular season title and moving forward from there,” Cole said.
