Maryland 2022 National Champions

[Essexfenwick]

The movement on offense, the chemistry of the talent is impressive

The offense is ridiculous. The defense is pressing and disciplined. That bubba is a defensive middie is scary. This is the first Md team I’ve ever seen with no weakness. The 2nd midfield is like no drop off. They can almost have 3 full midfields with great talent

[keno in reno]

agree on Bubba and I really like that the coaches and he seem to be on the same page that there are several better offensive players but he still has a huge role on the team and he's owning it. That's great senior leadership.

Still don't know if High Point or Loyola fogo's are any good, but man it's been a looooong time since MD has had this kind of advantage at the dot. What a difference it makes for an extremely dangerous offensive team to get the ball first every time. Coach Tierney says 'duh'.

Makar is an all-time great Terp defenseman, and if there are 3 better defenders more worthy of 1st team all american then they certainly must be amazing. Also, nice to see Koras and Brennan capitalize on chances for the offense. Seems like a big advantage when a team has to put their 6th best defender on them.

[jrn19]

Wow. I thought they'd win, thought they'd cover, but wow. I never expected that. This is as deep and well-rounded a MD team as I've ever seen. And I know it's February.

Pros
- Again, the depth. All 10 of the primary offensive players scored. Throw in Fairman for that and all 11 had points.
- Offense can just score in so many ways. Donville and DeMaio are sharpshooters, 5 goals on 12 shots. Khan had 4 assists being the QB from X. 9 total goals from the attack. Maltz and Long had offball goals. They just do everything well. Ball movement isn't even where it could be yet and yet they pass so well, it's always moving, everyone moves off ball, they have too many dodgers for you to pole and can win match-ups vs anyone. It's comprehensive and overwhelming
- Don't think any of the long poles lost a match-up all day. shorties got beat once or twice there, not Puglise's greatest day, but Makar was again tremendous, Rahill and Ajax played really well too.
- Wierman was tremendous. Not really sure how this team loses if they win faceoffs like that all year. And the timely ones as well, not sure he lost two in a row all game and that meant lots of quick answers to blunt any MO Loyola had. Also, when he has as many points as the leading scorer on Loyola...good day.
- Clearing good aside from that one bad Makar pass. Encouraging how good they look early on in clearing game, little things.

Cons
- Off ball D still a little iffy. Couple times like against HPU they gave up some looks inside you'd like to prevent. But that's also stuff Loyola does really, really well.

All in all, can't ask for much more. Team looks terrific and with no clear weaknesses. Onto Cuse.

[Wheels]

During that 10-3 second quarter, Maryland responded to Loyola's 3 goals by scoring 33, 6, and 7 seconds after they Loyola goals. That's about as complete of a game as you'll see. And Loyola isn't a bad team. They're a very good team, but Maryland made them look really bad.

One note about Bubba. You can see the Terps starting to game plan for getting him on offense. He would have had another assist early in the game, but the shot hit the pipe. It won't be surprising at all to see Bubba eclipse 20 points this season in the role they're using him. He got beat once on defense (Poitras got underneath him), but that was it. He even took Olmstead coming out of the box a couple of times, and Olmstead couldn't get anywhere. Impressive.

One worry...Cope was in a boot on the sidelines and Coffman was in sweats. The Terps ran 3 shorties all game (Fairman, Puglise, Higgins). That's not sustainable. Tills said he expects Alex Smith back but didn't say anything about Coffman. They're going to need someone else to help at the defensive midfield.

[jrn19]

During that 10-3 second quarter, Maryland responded to Loyola's 3 goals by scoring 33, 6, and 7 seconds after they Loyola goals. That's about as complete of a game as you'll see. And Loyola isn't a bad team. They're a very good team, but Maryland made them look really bad.

One note about Bubba. You can see the Terps starting to game plan for getting him on offense. He would have had another assist early in the game, but the shot hit the pipe. It won't be surprising at all to see Bubba eclipse 20 points this season in the role they're using him. He got beat once on defense (Poitras got underneath him), but that was it. He even took Olmstead coming out of the box a couple of times, and Olmstead couldn't get anywhere. Impressive.

One worry...Cope was in a boot on the sidelines and Coffman was in sweats. The Terps ran 3 shorties all game (Fairman, Puglise, Higgins). That's not sustainable. Tills said he expects Alex Smith back but didn't say anything about Coffman. They're going to need someone else to help at the defensive midfield.

If Smith is back soon, I think they can be okay in the regular season with 4. Bubba may have to play less offense but that’s a willing sacrifice with how the offense looks. But yeah, come May they’re gonna need all 4 and probably one more. We saw how they kinda ran out of gas there in the tournament when Higgins and Smith got hurt. I’d be trying out other guys in the 4th spot and seeing if you can find someone before Smith comes back

[AreaLax]

Post game press conference
https://youtu.be/XYvaZzkq-3U

[Pensky Material]

And Loyola isn't a bad team. They're a very good team,

And this is your opinion based on what? Because so far in 2022 2 scrimmages and 1 game that counted says differently. They better figure it out quickly though because they're staring at 0-3 going into March with their upcoming schedule.

[Wheels]

And Loyola isn't a bad team. They're a very good team,

And this is your opinion based on what? Because so far in 2022 2 scrimmages and 1 game that counted says differently. They better figure it out quickly though because they're staring at 0-3 going into March with their upcoming schedule.

Returning 14 of 15 scorers, your multiyear starting goalie, your starting defense, your above average FOGO, and your elite LSM from a team that lost an OT QF game to Duke...

Seems like this is a good team. They're having injury issues. Given their history, there's probably a good chance that they put everything together.

[keno in reno]

And Loyola isn't a bad team. They're a very good team,

And this is your opinion based on what? Because so far in 2022 2 scrimmages and 1 game that counted says differently. They better figure it out quickly though because they're staring at 0-3 going into March with their upcoming schedule.

Dang dude, on the same basis that UVA is ranked #1, UNC is a top team, same with Duke, Maryland and Georgetown etc....past results and returning players. Some teams will be over-ranked and some will surprise, but chances are Loyola will be very good regardless of their February record.

[Pensky Material]

And Loyola isn't a bad team. They're a very good team,

And this is your opinion based on what? Because so far in 2022 2 scrimmages and 1 game that counted says differently. They better figure it out quickly though because they're staring at 0-3 going into March with their upcoming schedule.

Dang dude, on the same basis that UVA is ranked #1, UNC is a top team, same with Duke, Maryland and Georgetown etc....past results and returning players. Some teams will be over-ranked and some will surprise, but chances are Loyola will be very good regardless of their February record.

See you just said "chances are they will be very good". My question to Wheels was because I took it as him saying they are very good right now. Yes they have high expectations based on the players they had coming back, but right now they look they have issues especially if you're comparing them to Maryland, Duke etc.

[keno in reno]

And Loyola isn't a bad team. They're a very good team,

And this is your opinion based on what? Because so far in 2022 2 scrimmages and 1 game that counted says differently. They better figure it out quickly though because they're staring at 0-3 going into March with their upcoming schedule.

Dang dude, on the same basis that UVA is ranked #1, UNC is a top team, same with Duke, Maryland and Georgetown etc....past results and returning players. Some teams will be over-ranked and some will surprise, but chances are Loyola will be very good regardless of their February record.

See you just said "chances are they will be very good". My question to Wheels was because I took it as him saying they are very good right now. Yes they have high expectations based on the players they had coming back, but right now they look they have issues especially if you're comparing them to Maryland, Duke etc.

Back to Maryland things on this Maryland thread: 2 sophomores who have made nice moves into the lineup are Zappitello who has seamlessly replaced Grill, and Koras whose growing confidence is showing a well-rounded offensive skillset.

[Wheels]

Back to Maryland things on this Maryland thread: 2 sophomores who have made nice moves into the lineup are Zappitello who has seamlessly replaced Grill, and Koras whose growing confidence is showing a well-rounded offensive skillset.

Through 2 games, the 2nd MF line (all sophomores...Brennan is eligibility-wise) has 8 goals. Of course, Murphy has 6 of those; but at least we won't have to hear anyone saying "but the Terps don't get anything out of the 2nd midfield."

[Farfromgeneva]

Everybody expects their second midfield line to put up 55-60 goals and everyone wonders why it didn’t happen at the end of the season (for every program)

[keno in reno]

Back to Maryland things on this Maryland thread: 2 sophomores who have made nice moves into the lineup are Zappitello who has seamlessly replaced Grill, and Koras whose growing confidence is showing a well-rounded offensive skillset.

Through 2 games, the 2nd MF line (all sophomores...Brennan is eligibility-wise) has 8 goals. Of course, Murphy has 6 of those; but at least we won't have to hear anyone saying "but the Terps don't get anything out of the 2nd midfield."

Yeah I didn't mention Brennan because he looked like a budding star 2 years ago, and he still does. His size and athleticism creates a nice matchup problem.

[NYterp09]

Back to Maryland things on this Maryland thread: 2 sophomores who have made nice moves into the lineup are Zappitello who has seamlessly replaced Grill, and Koras whose growing confidence is showing a well-rounded offensive skillset.

Through 2 games, the 2nd MF line (all sophomores...Brennan is eligibility-wise) has 8 goals. Of course, Murphy has 6 of those; but at least we won't have to hear anyone saying "but the Terps don't get anything out of the 2nd midfield."

Shouldn’t Brennan be a freshman in terms of eligibility? The only season he has played was the 2020 Covid season.

[AreaLax]

Back to Maryland things on this Maryland thread: 2 sophomores who have made nice moves into the lineup are Zappitello who has seamlessly replaced Grill, and Koras whose growing confidence is showing a well-rounded offensive skillset.

Through 2 games, the 2nd MF line (all sophomores...Brennan is eligibility-wise) has 8 goals. Of course, Murphy has 6 of those; but at least we won't have to hear anyone saying "but the Terps don't get anything out of the 2nd midfield."

Shouldn’t Brennan be a freshman in terms of eligibility? The only season he has played was the 2020 Covid season.

Yes he is freshman in eligibility

[Essexfenwick]

The second midfield is scary. For the first time in forever

[keno in reno]

The second midfield is scary. For the first time in forever

6 years. Rotanz (top 5 recruit) and Pat Young (all-american and pro) were better than anyone on this unit, which is very good.

[jrn19]

The second midfield is scary. For the first time in forever

6 years. Rotanz (top 5 recruit) and Pat Young (all-american and pro) were better than anyone on this unit, which is very good.

Young wasn’t an AA and Murphy might have more points than Gradinger did all year by the end of the month. Brown and Malever also matched those two last year.

2011 and 12 are the two years where the team went deepest on offense but neither had the high end talent of 16 or 21.

The fact that this years unit already looks like this is what makes them so encouraging. 2016 and 21 took time. Depth already evident here.

[keno in reno]

The second midfield is scary. For the first time in forever

6 years. Rotanz (top 5 recruit) and Pat Young (all-american and pro) were better than anyone on this unit, which is very good.

Young wasn’t an AA and Murphy might have more points than Gradinger did all year by the end of the month. Brown and Malever also matched those two last year.

2011 and 12 are the two years where the team went deepest on offense but neither had the high end talent of 16 or 21.

The fact that this years unit already looks like this is what makes them so encouraging. 2016 and 21 took time. Depth already evident here.

That's funny, you are correct that Young was not an All-American, but his official PLL bio sure is wrong. Either way, he came to MD with 86 goals already and Rotanz was the #3 recruit right behind Rambo. You can argue that's not a better 2nd than this year or whatever, but you can also easily argue that it is. Either way, this year's group looks fantastic and Brennan could end up like Bryan Cole level great.
Pat Young is a Trenton, New Jersey native where he attended Christ Church School. While playing at the University of Maryland, Young was a 2x First Team All-American and the 2013 America East Conference Rookie of the Year.