If You're Watching...

Maryland at Johns Hopkins
Today, 2 p.m. Homewood Field, Baltimore.
TV: ESPNU/WMAR-2.
Tickets: $11 reserved, $8 general admission ($1 from each ticket will be donated to cancer research in honor of former player Chris Gardner, who died of cancer in October 1997).
Parking: Pay lots for $5-10 around campus; street parking also available, but not plentiful.
Records: Terrapins 7-3, Blue Jays 3-5.
What to watch if you're a casual fan
This is the sport's best rivalry. TFBO2F wrote in 1998 that the Hopkins-Maryland series "isn't measured so much by wins and losses but by which team can inflict the greater disappointment on the other." And that is Maryland's charge today: With a win, it can pretty much drive a stake through the heart of Johns Hopkins's playoff chances.

Johns Hopkins would have to win its final four games, including a road game against No. 6 Navy next Saturday, to be eligible for the NCAA tournament. A loss also almost certainly would drop the Blue Jays to their lowest ranking; they currently are ranked No. 13. The lowest ranking was No. 14, at the end of a four-game losing streak in 1990.

Such things mean it's not hard to imagine Johns Hopkins Coach Dave Pietramala quoting Roland from "Song of Roland"

"Please God and His holiest angels, France shall never lose her name through me."

What to watch: Young Player
Junior D Michael Evans (#33) is one of the best position defenders in the country. We're not sure where he will matchup today--we think it'll be against Max Ritz (#10). Anyway, watch how Evans plays defense, in particular his stance. See at what parts of the field he goes "hard" to his opponent and where he eases up. Keep an eye on senior D Matt Bocklet (#7), too. He is excellent at getting his stick in passing lanes.

What to watch: Ardent Fan
We touched on this a little in the online chat yesterday. Maryland wins with good starts. Johns Hopkins loses with bad starts. Our colleague Patrick Stevens at the Washington Times agrees with the following assesment: If Maryland is ahead 4-1 midway through the second quarter, the Blue Jays are in deep trouble.

Last week we compared Maryland to a boa constrictor in how it controls the tempo and suffocates the game once it takes a lead. Hopkins has a chance to break that tempo if it starts slowly thanks to Stephen Peyser (#12) at faceoffs. But it will take an awful lot of energy and will be a further test to the team's psyche.

If Johns Hopkins gets an early lead, that would give it a ton of confidence in front of what is likely to be a capacity crowd.

The game-within-the-game is Hopkins senior MF Paul Rabil (#9, 13 goals, 7 assists) against Maryland LSM Brian Farrell (#37). Assuming Maryland doesn't use a lot of zone, that is.

Farrell is big and uses his leverage well. Rabil cannot try to do too much; don't forget that his winning goal in overtime last year came against Ryan Clarke, not Farrell.

The astounding thing about Rabil last year were his assists; he had 26, an uncommonly high number for a midfielder.

Also, sophomore MF Michael Kimmel (#15, 4 goals, 8 assists) has not scored in three games. Teams have been putting a longstick on him and shorting Peyser (10 goals, 63 groundballs) and senior attackman Michael Doneger (8 goals).

Something has to give there: Either Kimmel breaking his scoreless streak or Doneger and Peyser doing enough to force a pole.

By Christian Swezey |  April 12, 2008; 7:33 AM ET
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Posted by: Anon | April 12, 2008 9:23 AM

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