THE BIG ONE: Terps vs. Hopkins

Since Brian Phipps arrived on the campus, it's been the same maddening story.

An underachieving Johns Hopkins lacrosse team, loaded with talent, bumbles into this annual rivalry with the Terrapins needing something to breathe life into their season.

To their chagrin, the Terps have been the defibrillator.

"I know the past two times we've played Hopkins, they've always been the one down, losing a couple in a row," the junior goalie said. "Then they used our win to springboard them into the championship the past few years."

That memory lends extra incentive as the No. 13 Terps (6-4, 2-1 ACC) prepare to face the No. 9 Blue Jays on Saturday. And as if the biggest rivalry in college lacrosse needed more hype, the 2 p.m. game is part of the Smartlink Day of Rivals at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore.

Recent history has shown that this is the type of contest that can shift the fortunes of a team.

Two years ago, Hopkins entered the showdown on a three-game losing streak. Midfielder Paul Rabil scored in overtime to give the Blue Jays an 8-7 win. Hopkins didn't lose again en route to a national championship.

Last year, the Blue Jays were in dire straits after five straight losses left them two games below .500. After throttling the Terps, Hopkins went on to reach the national championship game.

"Hopefully [this game] can be that for us," Phipps said. "Get this big win and then go from there."

This year, it's not just Hopkins looking for a shot in the arm.

Losers of two straight, the Terps are admittedly behind on the learning curve relative to their own preseason expectations.

With Hopkins sitting at 4-4, each team has a lot on the line Saturday.

"Last couple years, Hopkins got back into their season by beating us," defensive coordinator Dave Slafkosky said. "I think both teams are sitting in that mode right now. Whoever gets the win gets a big notch up in getting into the NCAAs. Once you get a couple of those wins, I think, you play better because you feel like you're already there."

Facing their last ranked opponent before the ACC Tournament, Saturday's game is an opportunity for the jolt of confidence that coach Dave Cottle said the Terps desperately need.

His players agree that the team has struggled with adversity when the players have failed to score, at which point the coach said the Terps have "become unglued."

"There's tension," midfielder Jeff Reynolds said. "We haven't really played with much of a swagger, some confidence as well. You can definitely tell that we're frustrated. We're trying to get the ball in goal and trying to create offense, and it hasn't been happening. So there's some tension and frustration there."

Reynolds and Phipps agree the team needs to get back to having fun. Not surprisingly, they added that fun and winning go hand in hand.

A sign hangs in the Terps' locker room with a countdown to the Johns Hopkins game. But the need for a win is apparent.

It's hard to tell which means more to the team, the rivalry or just simply getting a win.

"In this situation, I think both," midfielder Bryn Holmes said. "In years past, it's always been the rivalry. This year, it's both."

The team has emphasized the importance of playing its best lacrosse heading into May.

To do this, the Terps will have to clear their heads, and a win can do a lot to erase bad memories from earlier in the season.

It's a situation not lost on Cottle, who has seen first hand how quickly a victory in this game can turn things around for a team.

"Winning is the ultimate deodorant," Cottle said. "It gets rid of a lot of stink. Right now, we gotta get rid of some stink."

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