1. One key to a Hofstra win: The Pride (9-4) and Maryland are mirror images of each other in that the attack units power the offense. That’s especially true for Hofstra, which relies on junior attackmen Jamie Lincoln (33 goals and 20 assists), Jay Card (27, 22) and Stephen Bentz (28, 12) to account for 50.9 percent of the team’s goals and 52.4 percent of the assists. Those three are particularly adept at moving off-ball and creating scoring opportunities when opposing defensemen are keep track of the ball carrier. They’re going to need to combine for another huge performance for the Pride to advance out of the first round for the first time since 2006.

2. One key to a Maryland win: The Terps (11-3) appear to be at full strength with the return of senior Will Yeatman from a concussion, which could bode well. Hofstra may surrender an average of 8.9 goals per game, but the defense has allowed double-digit goals in each of its last four contests. Sophomore Andrew Gvozden opened the season as the starting goalkeeper, was replaced by freshman Rob Bellairs for seven games, and then reassumed the starting role for the last five contests. The lack of continuity in the net should be an area that Maryland tries to attack on Saturday.

3. One key match-up: The Terps are 7-0 this season when they win more face-offs than their opponents and 9-1 when they collect more groundballs. Those two departments aren’t always related, but Maryland’s success has been built on effort and determination. That being said, the Terps’ face-off unit – led by senior Bryn Holmes – will have its hands full with a Hofstra face-off group powered by freshman John Antoniades, who has won 56.2 percent of re-starts (173-of-308), which is tied for 18th among Division I face-off specialists.