No. 4 Maryland men’s lacrosse at No. 9 Rutgers preview

No. 4 Maryland males’s lacrosse travels to New Brunswick, New Jersey for a top-10 matchup towards No. 9 Rutgers on Sunday.

The Terps are contemporary off of their second additional time win of the season, battling again from a five-goal deficit to down No. 18 Ohio State.

Sophomore attackmen Eric Spanos and Zach Whittier helped minimize the Buckeyes’ result in three heading into the fourth quarter, after which Maryland’s protection took over. Ohio State missed its final six pictures and dedicated three turnovers, and Maryland junior attackman Daniel Kelly tallied two of the three targets essential to power additional time.

The Buckeyes’ offense didn’t contact the ball in additional time, as senior Luke Wierman received the opening faceoff and freshman attackman Braden Erksa capped off the spectacular comeback with an unassisted aim.

The Terps performed their worst first half of the yr towards Ohio State, however 4 unanswered targets propelled them to victory.

Now, the Terps’ focus strikes to Rutgers, who poses another impediment standing between them and the Huge Ten regular-season crown. Sunday’s recreation will start at 7 p.m. and air on Huge Ten Community.

Rutgers Scarlet Knights (8-3, 1-2 Huge Ten)

2022 document: 15-4, 4-1 Huge Ten

Head coach Brian Brecht is in his twelfth yr on the helm of Rutgers’ males’s lacrosse program. He’s achieved nice success in that point, main the Scarlet Knights to a Remaining 4 look in 2022 and a NCAA quarterfinals look in 2021. Brecht has completed with no less than a .500 successful proportion in six of his 11 years with Rutgers, and can make it seven this season. Brecht has but to defeat the Terps in his profession, nonetheless, shedding all 11 matchups.

Gamers to observe

Shane Knobloch, junior midfielder, No. 27 — Rutgers produced three All-Huge Ten first-team members final yr, and the headliner was Knobloch, who tallied 32 targets and 16 assists. He has assumed the position of the Scarlet Knights’ major playmaker this yr, main the crew in assists (16) whereas committing simply 15 turnovers. Knobloch has 16 targets on a .235 capturing proportion up to now, however his playmaking makes him Rutgers’ greatest risk.

Ethan Rall, senior long-stick midfielder, No. 29 — Rall was the Scarlet Knights’ solely unanimous All-Huge Ten first-team choice final yr, and for good purpose. He ranked first within the Huge Ten in triggered turnovers (31), additionally scoring two targets and meting out 4 assists. Rall is having one other distinctive yr on the defensive finish in 2023, recording 38 floor balls and 15 triggered turnovers.

Ross Scott, senior attackman, No. 5 — Scott had a historic season in 2022, wherein he tied Rutgers’ single-season aim document (50) and posted the second-most factors in a single season (75). This yr, he has tallied 24 targets on an 0.270 shot proportion and eight assists via the primary 11 video games. Whereas Scott isn’t having his finest season, he’s nonetheless Rutgers’ most harmful scorer.

Power

Turnovers. Regardless of their quick tempo of play, the Scarlet Knights don’t waste possessions. Rutgers leads the nation in turnovers per recreation (11.82), an space the place the Terps have struggled to seek out consistency. Led by Knobloch and senior attackman Mind Cameron, the Scarlet Knights won’t give Maryland many second probabilities.

Weak spot

Shot effectivity. There usually are not very many obvious weaknesses for the No. 9 crew within the nation, however Rutgers’ capturing proportion may use enchancment. The Scarlet Knights rank forty fifth within the nation in capturing proportion (0.283), which is simply barely greater than Maryland’s 0.281. A lot of this has to do with their high two shot-takers, Scott and Knobloch, capturing a mixed 11.6 proportion factors beneath their averages final yr.

Three issues to observe

1. Can Maryland’s children take over? A number of underclassmen have stepped up as of late, foreshadowing the way forward for Maryland’s males’s lacrosse program. Erksa had a real breakout recreation two weeks in the past towards No. 15 Michigan, when he scored three targets and tacked on one help, after which adopted that efficiency up with the game-winning aim towards Ohio State. Spanos and Whittier additionally contributed towards the Buckeyes, every tallying two targets. If Erksa, Spanos and Whittier proceed to enhance, Maryland’s offense can be extraordinarily harmful come Might.

“I feel a part of it’s the chance and a part of it’s confidence rising,” head coach John Tillman stated. “Because the season goes on, you’re hoping guys develop … you want multiple midfield to essentially go the place you wish to go.”

2. A battle of defensive juggernauts. Rutgers and Maryland have two of the most effective defenses within the nation, every rating top-12 in scoring protection. Senior defensemen Bobby Russo and Brett Makar every head their respective defensive items and are often assigned with guarding the opponent’s finest offensive participant. With every offense dealing with inconsistencies, this may very well be a grind-it-out kind of recreation.

3. Can the Terps proceed their robust fourth-quarter play? Maryland entered the fourth quarter towards Ohio State down three, however nonetheless managed to come back out on high. The Terps scored three essential targets within the fourth, after which ended the sport within the first possession of additional time. They solely dedicated two turnovers within the fourth and received three of the ultimate 4 faceoffs. Whereas Maryland must get off to a greater begin towards Rutgers, the Terps performed their finest lacrosse of the season within the ultimate 16 minutes of final week’s recreation.

“There are some issues that we did do effectively, however we additionally wish to ensure that we’re not ever glad,” Tillman stated. “We received to attempt to be the crew that performed the second half.”