One key to a Virginia win: The top-seeded Cavaliers (12-1) proved that they can rally from a four-goal deficit as they did on Friday, turning a 4-0 disadvantage into an eventual 16-12 victory over No. 6 Duke in a tournament semifinal. But Virginia has also proven that it can surrender a big lead as Maryland cut into deficits of 6-0, 7-1 and 8-2 before falling short, 11-10, on April 3. If the Cavaliers manage to build another significant advantage on Sunday, they’ll have to remain vigilant and avoid the kind of lackadaiscal effort that almost sank them in the first meeting between these two teams.

One key to a Maryland win: When the Terps (9-2) dropped a 9-7 decision to No. 3 North Carolina on March 27, one factor was the Tar Heels’ advantage on face-offs, where they won 11-of-19 draws. On Friday, Maryland turned the tables, winning 14-of-22 restarts. In the first meeting against Virginia, the Terps lost 15-of-24 face-offs. Maryland must do a better job on draws to give its offense a chance to test Cavaliers junior goalkeeper Adam Ghitelman and limit the number of touches Virginia’s own high-powered offense will get.

One key match-up: There is no doubt that Cavaliers junior midfielder Shamel Bratton is one of the most dynamic players in the country, a whirling dervish of a player who can make even the soundest of defensemen appear slow and foolish. But Bratton had problems against Terps junior defenseman Brett Schmidt, who surrendered a lonely assist to Bratton on April 3. (Bratton did score a goal, but it occurred during an unsettled situation.) Schmidt, who held North Carolina junior attackman and Tewaaraton Award candidate Billy Bitter scoreless for the first time since May 10, 2008, might be the linchpin in determining whether Virginia wins nine of the last 10 meetings.