College Park (Map, News) - When the Terrapins play Denver at Byrd Stadium today at noon, the defense will have to be ready for an offense unlike any it’s faced this year.

“It’s really unorthodox and it’s kind of hard to prepare for,” senior defender Joe Cinosky, who leads the team with 27 caused turnovers, said. “It almost seems like it’s a big cluster out there, then all of a sudden you’ll see one guy run out and he’ll score a goal. So you have to be prepared for all of their guys to score.”

The Pioneers’ unconventional offense has been effective this season, as Denver averages 11.2 goals per game, ninth-best nationally. Freshman midfielder Jamie Lincoln is third in Division I with 47 goals.

Defense has been a strength for Maryland, as its 7.6 goals allowed per game is the fifth-lowest of the tournament’s 16 teams. But Denver’s defensive schemes also are vastly different than what Maryland has faced all season.

“They just chase you around and really have no organization,” said freshman attacker Grant Catalino, who leads the team with 25 goals and 36 points. “Their goalie is very athletic and can come out of the cage, which you don’t see very often.”

In practice during the week, the Terrapins’ scout team has imitated Denver’s offense and defense, and Cottle believes his team should be well-prepared in the teams’ first meeting since Maryland’s 16-8 victory in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in 2006.

“I think we know what we have to do,” Cottle said. “The question will be whether we’ll be able to do it under pressure. It’s like playing an NFL defense that blitzes every time. You’re either going to get a lot of big plays or a lot of breakups.”

The Pioneers received an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament after losing to Ohio State in the first round of the Great Western Lacrosse League Tournament. Redshirt junior Jeff Reynolds, who leads Terrapin midfielders with 18 goals, believes that home-field advantage may play a big role, especially considering Denver will have to adjust to a much lower altitude and a two-hour time difference in College Park. Maryland, however, was upset by UMBC at Byrd Stadium in the first round of last year’s tournament.

“Last year, when we came out onto the field, we had just found out that Virginia had lost to Delaware. We were kind of already looking past UMBC, saying basically that we had a free trip to the Final Four,” Cinosky said. “This weekend, we’re going to take care of business with Denver.”

NEXT UP

No. 6 TERRAPINS (9-5) vs. DENVER PIONEERS (10-6)

Faceoff: Noon

Where:  Byrd Stadium

Radio: 1300 AM

TV: ESPN U

Tickets: Available

avitelli@baltimoreexaminer.com

Comments from Examiner Readers

1:10 AM MST on Tue., May. 13, 2008 re: "Terrapins looking to stuff Owls"

Examiner Reader said:
Berkley Summerlin (leader of the Temple team that the Terps were to stuff) is a native of Baltimore. Perhaps an article about her would be interesting! Maybe better than articles about a 25 yr old Canadian playing lax at Md.

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5:20 PM MST on Sat., May. 10, 2008 re: "Loyola Greyhounds look to bedevil Duke"

Examiner Reader said:
What's the update???

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2:09 PM MST on Tue., Jan. 29, 2008 re: "Schwartzman answers his critics"

Examiner Reader said:
jesse you rock

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9:41 AM MST on Tue., Jul. 24, 2007 re: "Timchal up for the challenge"

Examiner Reader said:
Good Luck to Cindy. Her players are lucky to have her. She is a classic. She was sorely missed this year by a lot of Maryland people. I only wish her the best.

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9:41 AM MST on Tue., May. 29, 2007 re: "Charmed with lacrosse"

Examiner Reader said:
Next time do some research and get the atttendance numbers right! Monday's NCAA Men's Division I thriller between Johns Hopkins and Duke set a new attendance record for the championship game, with 48,443 fans enjoying the action at M&T Bank Stadium. That breaks the mark of 47,062 set last year at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. This year is the fourth year in row in which single-session attendance for the title game exceeded 40,000. The 2007 men's championships -- the Division I semifinals and finals plus the Division II and Division III finals -- also set a record, with 123,225 in attendance. That tops the 120,614 who watched the tournament in Philadelphia in 2006.

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7:49 PM MST on Tue., May. 22, 2007 re: "So what�s it gonna take?"

Examiner Reader said:
Zimmerman is a class act. Best of luck to him and UMBC Lacrosse! Signed: An Air Force Academy Lacrosse Fan.

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7:16 PM MST on Wed., May. 16, 2007 re: "So what�s it gonna take?"

Stephen Meister said:
Last year the Baltimore group derided the NCAA selection committees "Ivy League" selections. This year, the Baltimore crowd showed they didn't belong in the mix. Cornell had to stall the last 3 minutes at Brown, escaping with a victory and feeling badly beaten up. When Cornell met Towson the competition from the Baltimore boys was a joke. Albany took a beating from Binghamton, then Albany showed Loyolla to be a laughing stock. UMBC had to take Brown into overtime, but they hammered Maryland in the playoffs. Parity is here, baby, and the MLL is spreading the word. Baltimore better be wary, they may go the way of Tower Records as the rest of the country discovers this fabulous game.

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7:50 AM MST on Sat., Apr. 21, 2007 re: "Terps battle inconsistency"

Examiner Reader said:
Josh Portis is a student of the game. Ralph has him throwing to 2 team most of the time. Steffy has 1st team which help his percentages. I say give Portis more reps with 1st team and watch his percentage sky rocket. He is a great passer as well as a serious threat with his feet. (playmaker)

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