General Thoughts on Maryland

[dwilmont44]

Dont buy tickets day of the game. The tickets the day before last game were $21. Day of Game they were $29...

What about factoring in the dang Ticketmaster fees from buying today?

 

[NineOneSeven]

Dont buy tickets day of the game. The tickets the day before last game were $21. Day of Game they were $29...

Yeah got one on mycuse and was $29, probably $35 tmrw

 

[JeremyCuse]

Yeah got one on mycuse and was $29, probably $35 tmrw

Yes likely 30+ at the door

 

[Cuse4455]

What about factoring in the dang Ticketmaster fees from buying today?

I basically had to pay an extra $15 for my tickets last game because I waited until day of. If they are under $25 right now Id buy them. Because like Jeremy said it might be in the $30s tomorrow.

 

[dwilmont44]

Got mine for 28.50

Let's do this

 

[DoctahLexus]

I am curious about the defensive matchups for SU tomorrow. I don't know enough about the UMD defense to really comment on who they will match up with. For SU, they have some choices to make.

I assume Riley will be on Leo Johnson. I don't know how much of a difference it will make, but I am not sure how many times Figuerias has had to guard a lefty (to my mind, most quarterbacks are righties). How much of a difference that makes, I am not sure.

Things get interesting when comes to where to put Dwan. Most will probably say to put him on Eric Spanos, who is a big dude at 6'5 220. Dwan loses an inch but has 10 more pounds on Spanos. But that would leave Jordan Beck, standing at 6'4 241 on the fleet of foot, Brendan Erksa. Not sure that's a matchup you want in the open field.

My suggestion would be to put Dwan on Erksa and Beck on Spanos. It's a risk given that Beck hasn't seen a ton of real game action (not counting the man down duties over the years), and hasn't been tested much by opposing defenses. But size wise and skill wise this seems like the most even matchup. Dwan has some foot speed that could help him keep up with Erksa. Or you move Figuerias to Erksa (who he guarded last year). Either way, I don't think Beck should guard Erksa or Johnson, and I don't think it's realistic to bring in a different defender when Beck has started the first two games of the year.

Spanos was the leading scorer against SU last year, with nine points in two games. So it's risky to bump Dwan off him, but maybe a different matchup will result in a different outcome. Curious what others think.

I definitely like Dwan on Spanos. Spanos is still their biggest threat IMO and has a combination of size strength and speed that only Dwan can really match. I would not trust Beck with a matchup like that at all since he has relatively very little experience. Dwan was likely dealing with an injury in the later part of the season last year. He looked noticeably slower at times. Still Spanos only beat him clean off the dodge one time in that one. In the first game his goals off the dodge were all against Grace. Think having Dwan fully healthy he will matchup well with Spanos.

Think we likely see Figueras on Johnson for this one. Still like the idea of having one of our LSMs on Erksa and putting Beck on Lyons, since our LSMs are more suited for small and speedy guys. Bolognino is fast but pretty small and skinny, so I would worry about him getting overpowered by Lyons off the dodge.

 

[Zack80]

I definitely like Dwan on Spanos. Spanos is still their biggest threat IMO and has a combination of size strength and speed that only Dwan can really match. I would not trust Beck with a matchup like that at all since he has relatively very little experience. Dwan was likely dealing with an injury in the later part of the season last year. He looked noticeably slower at times. Still Spanos only beat him clean off the dodge one time in that one. In the first game his goals off the dodge were all against Grace. Think having Dwan fully healthy he will matchup well with Spanos.

Think we likely see Figueras on Johnson for this one. Still like the idea of having one of our LSMs on Erksa and putting Beck on Lyons, since our LSMs are more suited for small and speedy guys. Bolognino is fast but pretty small and skinny, so I would worry about him getting overpowered by Lyons off the dodge.

Putting an LSM on an attackman can mess up a defense's usual scheme of things. LSMs go off, Defensemen don't. Teams usually run 2 LSMs during a game.
LSMs are used to playing out in front, while Defensemen are used to playing around the goal. Then there is the clearing/break stuff.
Anyways, I don't say this is prohibitive of doing it, but you have to factor it into the equation.

 

[DoctahLexus]

Putting an LSM on an attackman can mess up a defense's usual scheme of things. LSMs go off, Defensemen don't. Teams usually run 2 LSMs during a game.
LSMs are used to playing out in front, while Defensemen are used to playing around the goal. Then there is the clearing/break stuff.
Anyways, I don't say this is prohibitive of doing it, but you have to factor it into the equation.

Yeah but LSMs end up closer to the goal all the time. If a middie inverts then the LSM ends up closer to GLE. Also attack will dodge from more up top locations frequently too. It is not unheard of to do it and we have done it before. Dwan on Collison went well against hop last year for instance. Think it is more important to worry about how a defender matches up with a certain player than where they will be on the field. It does not create issues for clears.

 

[Zack80]

Yeah but LSMs end up closer to the goal all the time. If a middie inverts then the LSM ends up closer to GLE. Also attack will dodge from more up top locations frequently too. It is not unheard of to do it and we have done it before. Dwan on Collison went well against hop last year for instance. Think it is more important to worry about how a defender matches up with a certain player than where they will be on the field. It does not create issues for clears.

Dwan on Collison would make sense as Collison is Hopkins best offensive player and would outweigh what I am talking about. Further, Dwan is pretty good at going down the field.

If the goalie makes a clean save, and you have Beck lumbering down the middle of the field as opposed to one of your speedy LSMs this is a minus.

 

[DoctahLexus]

Dwan on Collison would make sense as Collison is Hopkins best offensive player and would outweigh what I am talking about. Further, Dwan is pretty good at going down the field.

If the goalie makes a clean save, and you have Beck lumbering down the middle of the field as opposed to one of your speedy LSMs this is a minus.

Ok so we would not send beck downfield on the clear. Why exactly would that be required if he is guarding a middie? He could just be one do the guys who stays back. Same difference. It makes no difference who he is guarding. Guys are switching matchups on possessions all the time. Why would a guy who is guarding a middie at the end of a possession have to be the one to go downfield on a clear??

 

[cuselaxss26]

Game Day let’s go please please come out hot play smart n physical no dumb penalties or lame lazy mistake or turnovers. Let’s get this monkey off our back that is the terps. Tillman can still suck it !

 

[cuselaxss26]

Defense has to stay focus not lull to sleep n can’t state it enough have to be on terps hands. Every pass n catch has to be somewhat of struggle or least they have to move to do so. Can not just let them whip ball around n sitting back waiting in D. Talk on picks n if slide GO don’t stop or hesitate GO! n go hard n strong. Offense put the ball in the net. Can’t miss clean looks or chances as may not get many. Johnny beast mullen do your thing. Come on boys hustle on every play n for every ball.

 

[Zack80]

Ok so we would not send beck downfield on the clear. Why exactly would that be required if he is guarding a middie? He could just be one do the guys who stays back. Same difference. It makes no difference who he is guarding. Guys are switching matchups on possessions all the time. Why would a guy who is guarding a middie at the end of a possession have to be the one to go downfield on a clear??

He wouldn't have to be, but he might be more likely to be. That is, he would be more likely to be the long pole out near the restraining line.

 

[DomeHolmes]

In every game from 2024 on we have had our opportunities. That is even true of the final four game, but especially true for the regular season games in 24 and 25. We had a lot off open looks at cage that were as good as any you could ask for in those games that either got swallowed up by McNaney or we missed the shot. Thomson infamously went 0-8 shooting in 2024 with at least half of those being wide open looks. Devastating in a 1 goal game. They were not as open for English in 2025, but it was a similar story in that game with him going 0-8, along with other guys not capitalizing on open looks.

Yes they have an excellent disciplined defense, but we have also got in our own way as well. It is not just MD containing us and not even giving us chances, despite what their more arrogant fans would say. They acted like they dominated on that end after the 2024 game despite it being unbelievably close. Even before the Leo crease call we had 2 good looks in OT. We have had our chances and just have not made the most of them.

Agree with your points. McNaney was by far the biggest reason for last seasons loss IMO. I think it’s easy to underestimate what that does to a team mentally when he is reading your mind on shots. One of the best goalie performances I have seen. My biggest concern tonight, is that I thought that despite scoring 20 goals last game vs St Joes, McNaney would have saved 1/2 of those or more. They were well placed but many lacked velocity. We need better looks than that, because Marylands new goalie will be so much better than st joes and we can’t settle for mediocre looks.

 

[cuselaxss26]

Can’t settle or take low angle shots either that really an easy save or turnover. Middies will have to be on point tonight. Have to shoot well from midfield. Have to back up shots. Can’t lose groundball battle either. Think big factor will be at the X. As they have two guys who are solids so johnny will have to be stellar (always is) n even angelo will have to least muk it up n wing play step up immensely. Take care of ball. Don’t force any inside looks either. Like to see some good old fashion high bouncers or even the skip bouncers. Hide the head of your stick make it anyway possible harder for goalie to track. Let’s go!

 

[JeremyCuse]

Chuck K playing close as a few of us noted was likely