Maryland men's lacrosse schedule features seven ranked foes

After apparently being shrouded in mystery, the Maryland men's lacrosse team released their 2014 schedule Thursday afternoon. The ACC and Coach John Tillman have put together a schedule with plenty of challenges as the Terps look to make their twelfth consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance. In addition to the five ranked ACC teams, Maryland's thirteen game schedule includes two foes ranked in Lacrosse Magazine's preseason poll - the Villanova Wildcats and the Blue Jays of Johns Hopkins.

Maryland starts the season with back to back home games for just the fifth time this century when they host Mount. St. Mary's and UMBC on February 8 and 15. The Terps opened their ten and four 2013 campaign with a 23-6 rout of the Mount. Last season's game against UMBC was a weather casualty.

Following the UMBC game, the Terrapins hit the road for their ACC opener on February 22 at Syracuse. The Orange are ranked second in Lacrosse Magazine's preseason poll. Circle March 1 on your calendar as the Terps return home to host the defending national champion Duke Blue Devils in the final regular season ACC matchup between the two schools.

The eighth of March has Maryland taking the trip to Long Island where they'll take on Stony Brook a team the Terps also defeated last season in a 13-7 home win. After a pit stop at Byrd to face Villanova, Maryland hits the road again for the first of two back to back road game pairings they will face during the season. In the first set, Maryland will face off in a Tuesday tussle against future Big Ten foe Michigan. On Sunday, the twenty-third, the Terps will be in Chapel Hill to play North Carolina.

Back to back home games close out March and open April. On another circle the calendar date, Maryland will play their final home game as a member of the ACC when they host the Virginia Cavaliers on March 30. April second will bring Robert Morris to Byrd Stadium.

The second of those back to back road trips begins April 12 when Maryland makes the short drive up I-95. Yes, it's another calendar highlight as Johns Hopkins will play host to the 111^th renewal of the greatest rivalry in lacrosse. A week after the game at Hopkins, the Terps will close out their final ACC regular season with a return to the midwest to take on ACC newcomer Notre Dame.

The 2014 ACC Tournament will be held over the weekend of April 25 - 27 in Philadelphia. The semi-finals will be played on Friday and the finals on Sunday. Saturday will see a matchup between the fifth and sixth place finishers in the league.

Holding to tradition, the Terps will play one more game between the ACC Tournament and the NCAA Tournament. On May third, Maryland will host their final regular season opponent the Navy Midshipmen.

The 2014 NCAA Tournament begins its eighteen team format with two play-in games between the four lowest ranked automatic qualifying teams. The first round will begin May 10 at campus sites.