No. 3 Maryland men’s lacrosse hosts No. 19 Penn State looking to sweep regular season series on Senior Day

(Photograph Courtesy of Maryland Athletics.)

No. three Maryland (6-0 B1G) has an opportunity to extend its undefeated season against No. xix Penn State (2-4 B1G) when the ii teams face off on Sabbatum in College Park.

For the first time this season, the Terps will be able to play in front of more than than just friends and family. Before this calendar week, Maryland Athletics announced that some fans would be able purchase tickets to the concluding two home games.

"We've definitely missed the fans in the stadium so it volition exist good to have them there and some more family to back up united states of america, and then we're definitely looking forward to it," defender Matt Rahill said.

In the beginning meeting, the Terps edged out the then-No. xiii Nittany Lions 13-vii in a terrific defensive functioning headlined by Logan McNaney'southward career-high 16 saves. McNaney and the Maryland defence force have grown stronger in each game including in its ii nigh recent contests, holding opponents to less than 10 goals.

On Saturday, the Terps volition look to replicate a similar defensive effort and that all starts with slowing downward Penn State star attackman Mac O' Keefe. He struggled in State Higher with just i goal as Nick Grill hounded him and didn't allow the prolific shooter to get his easily free.

O'Keefe'south solitary goal came off of an intercept on the ride, which Maryland volition need to be cognizant of throughout. He'southward the leading catalyst of Penn State's crime with a combined seven goals in their ii victories.

Young man attackman T.J. Malone is a perfect complement to O'Keefe and is almost equally as dangerous equally a facilitator. Maryland'south defence force also held him in check with just one goal in the opening coming together and will look for similar success on Saturday.

"That'due south gonna exist hard and to wait that to me would be unrealistic," Tillman said of holding O'Keefe and Malone to a combined ii goals. "Nosotros're gonna do our best, I think some of the guys that they put in are getting more comfortable and confident. We're just gonna accept to be really buttoned upward. We're gonna have to be really organized and communicate. Our slides are going to have to be on indicate."

Jared Bernhardt volition exist the focal signal of Maryland'due south offense again, continuing to showcase why he'southward one of the all-time attack men in college lacrosse. He's at present just i goal away from tying Matt Rambo'southward program record of 155.

Bernhardt's ability to draw slides has been a pivotal function of the Terps' success offensively in recent contests allowing players like Kyle Long and Daniel Maltz to benefit from all of the attending he draws.

Maltz scored four goals in the first meeting while Logan Wisnuaskas added a lid trick, presenting challenges for the Nittany Lions defence.

One of the biggest emphases for the Terps will be at the faceoff 10 where they had troubles in State College. Justin Shockey went 0-6 against Penn Land's Gerard Arceri prompting Tillman to bring in Connor Calderone, who finished the game vii-17 on faceoffs.

However, Shockey has bounced back in recent weeks including last week against and then-No. 5 Rutgers winning 15-of-25 faceoffs. While not all of the responsibility lies on Shockey, Tillman and the coaching staff are looking for more consistency from the senior.

"He's been inconsistent, but he'south also a guy that we know has potential, so how practise you lot manage that," Tillman said of Shockey. "[Nosotros talk well-nigh] what we need to do physically in terms of what we're teaching him at the faceoff itself, but likewise mentally preparing him because it didn't go well the first time. You tin't start 0-6 at the faceoff X in our briefing and await to win a lot of games."

I of the biggest keys to Maryland's second-half runs this season has been the success at the faceoff X and power to maintain possessions. More faceoff victories volition go a long mode in deciding if Maryland's able to extend its undefeated record on an afternoon where they'll be honoring sixteen seniors.

The game will air on BTN Plus with opening face up-off at 1 p.m.

"You have to remind the guys this is a brand new opportunity, people take fabricated adjustments, they're hungry," Tillman said.

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Source: http://wmucsports.net/no-3-maryland-mens-lacrosse-hosts-no-19-penn-state-looking-to-sweep-regular-season-series-on-senior-day/