There probably can’t be any lulls Thursday night against Maryland, which has won 29 of its last 30 games dating back to 2020 and has claimed its last 17 games against Big Ten opponents.
Four of those have come against the Blue Jays, matching the Terps’ longest winning streak in the 123-game series. Maryland won four in a row from 1935-38, 1953-56, 1961-64 and 2015-18, only for Hopkins to halt each streak.
Doing so again would be one of the most riveting — and arguably surprising — chapters in a long-running rivalry littered with them.
“They’re Goliath,” said Epstein, who scored his 100th career goal Saturday. “I’m going to be honest. Everyone knows that, and they showed that when we played them here, and it definitely left a bitter taste in our mouth. We’re going to have to have an unbelievable week of practice, preparation, belief. They’re an unbelievable group — incredibly well-coached, incredibly disciplined. The way they play lacrosse, it’s fun to watch.”
At that point, Epstein was reminded it probably isn’t much fun for those on the field facing the Terps.
“Well,” he said, “We’re going to have to do our best to make it ugly to watch.”
NUMBERS OF NOTE
5
No. 1 seeds in this week’s conference tournaments that have never earned an NCAA tournament berth. The group includes Boston University (Patriot), Jacksonville (Southern), St. Bonaventure (Metro Atlantic), Saint Joseph’s (Northeast) and Utah (Atlantic Sun).
10
Losses for Syracuse in 2022, a single-season school record. The Orange fell to 4-10 with Sunday’s 18-11 loss to Notre Dame, breaking a tie with the 1974 team (2-9) for the most defeats in program history.
11
Losses for Penn State this season, tying a program record first established in 2010. The injury-plagued Nittany Lions closed out a 3-11 season Saturday with a 16-8 loss at Johns Hopkins in the Big Ten quarterfinals. Penn State had only three players — attackman Mac Costin, defenseman Kevin Parnham and midfielder Dan Reaume — start all 14 games this season.
86
Points for Army’s Brendan Nichtern this season, a single-season record for the Black Knights. The senior had two goals and eight assists in Friday’s 15-14 victory at Boston University to inch past the Army record of 85 set by Tom Cafaro in 1971. Nichtern’s last assist was his 51st of the year, breaking his own school record of 50 established in 2019.