Maryland-Duke Preview

Maryland-Duke. Who doesn't love it? One of the most intense rivalries in basketball (both men's and women's), soccer, lacrosse, etc. hits the field hockey gridiron tomorrow afternoon as the top ranked Terps welcome in those hated Blue Devils, who are ranked 9th in the country. The Terps are 10-1 overall, 3-0 in ACC play. They're coming off a 4-3 overtime triumph at # 10 Virginia last Saturday (this blogger was supposed to do play-by-play of that game and even previewed it...then a virus intervened and that didn't happen) in which Emma Thomas scored her first career goal to propel the Terps to victory.

Duke, meanwhile, is 8-3, 1-2 in ACC play. They're coming off a 2-0 victory over Boston University on Sunday and that followed up a 5-0 whitewashing of Boston College for their only win in conference play. The Blue Devils haven't been on the road since September 13, when then-top ranked Wake Forest took them down 4-1 in Winston Salem. Their other losses are a 2-1 defeat at home to 5th ranked North Carolina on September 27 and also a 1-0 loss in their first game of the season against then-# 17 Louisville in Kentucky.

The Terps will be shorthanded. No Katie O'Donnell, Alexis Pappas, or Brianna Davies, as those three are down in Mexico City as a part of the Junior Pan Am Games. O'Donnell in particular is a killer loss as she may be the best field hockey player in the country. Players like Nicole Muracco, Susie Rowe, and Ellen Ott will have to step up in their absence. The Blue Devils do not appear to be a powerful team, however. Despite being ranked # 9, they don't have a single player with more than 13 points on the season. They make up for it by playing a very defensive style that has shut out four opponents this season (including their last two) and allowed them to knock off then-# 5 Iowa in Iowa City 2-1, by far their most impressive win of the season.

The Terrapin offense may bog down without O'Donnell. No offense to Muracco or anyone else, but you don't just lose a Katie O'Donnell and chug along like nothing's wrong. Not to mention the loss of Pappas as well, which will also hurt. Davies is a tough loss on the defensive end but Alicia Grater should be able to survive in net without her, especially against the not-that-potent Blue Devil offense. Except a low-scoring game, with the Terps prevailing late on a Muracco goal.

I'll be back after the game tomorrow with a blog recapping it and giving you some insight from the participants.

PREDICTION: Maryland 2, Duke 1.