1) Be efficient on offense. Opponents are averaging 30 shots a contest against the Orange, but it would behoove the Terps to follow last Sunday’s pattern when they put 21 of 33 shots (63.6 percent) on goal in a 7-3 victory over No. 7 seed Notre Dame in the first round. Maryland doesn’t have to outshoot Syracuse necessarily, but the offense must test sophomore goalkeeper John Galloway, who was the shakiest goalie in last year’s final four, early and often. If the Terps can maintain the pressure, maybe they can gain the upper hand.

2) Give Stephen Keogh the Ryan Hoff treatment. In the win against the Fighting Irish, Maryland rotated short-stick defensive midfielders Bryn Holmes and Dan Burns and close defensemen Brett Schmidt and Mike Griswold on Ryan Hoff, who failed to take a single shot. The Terps would be wise to employ a similar tactic against Keogh, the sophomore attackman who ranks second in the country with 44 goals. "He can dodge a little bit, and the thing I’ve been impressed with is, he’s physical," Cottle said. "He hits defensemen, he’s a good rider, and it doesn’t seem like he ever misses a shot. I think he’s a complete player." Such a move puts the onus on the rest of defense to stay with the dodges and recover after sliding, but Maryland can help itself by shutting off the Orange’s primary finisher.

3) Beware Syracuse’s transition game. Along with Virginia and Duke, the Orange is one of the best at turning a save or a turnover in the defensive zone into an offensive opportunity. Syracuse is blessed with defenders with excellent stick skills and tremendous speed. Maybe this is the contest when the Terps move sophomore Grant Catalino back to attack because he can’t play defense if he is playing midfield. "You’ve got to get back and hold out, but you’ve got to do something when you get back there," Cottle said. "One of the things we’re working on is from offense to defense, getting back in the hole."