I'm not sure that I've ever formally introduced myself as the writer of this blog. I am Patrick Fischer, the media relations director for the Terps' men's lacrosse team. This is the start of my sixth season with the team and I'm sure it will prove to be an exciting one. If you have any comments or questions about this blog, the team, a game or anything related to the Terps, you can send me an e-mail and I'll try to address each and every one as I can.

But, enough of an introduction. Let's get a first look at the 2010 Maryland men's lacrosse team.

The first thing that comes to mind at the start of a season is the dreaded P-word: Potential. Or it could be the E-word: Expections. Each, or both, can be dangerous. Last year the Terps entered the season ranked third in the nation and so a quarterfinal loss to the eventual national champions was deemed to be a disappointment. That's in contrast to the 2007 team, which was not as highly touted, so a double-digit win season was deemed successful. 

The season is a long one and there are a lot twists and turns along the way. Preseason rankings (the Terps are 8th in the Face-Off Yearbook if you're wondering) are worth as much as the paper they're printed on at the end of the year. No one in the preseason last year knew that Brian Farrell would get hurt in the second game of the year and miss the rest of the season. That one injury changed a lot for the Terps, from the way they played defense, to their transition attack on offense. The point is that this is a long year, so let it play out. Enjoy the ride.

Every year people will say that a team is a reflection of its seniors, because it is their last year and they have the most to play for. In a sense that's true, but everyone on this team has something to play for. Let's take a quick look:

Joe Cummings

Ryan Young

Max Schmidt

Warren Hansen

Freshmen: There are 16 freshmen on the roster, of which three are redshirts (Owen Blye, MJ Leonard and Pat Morrison), who have a year under their belts and will be looking to earn playing time. Of the other 13, there are some highly-touted newcomers that are looking to prove that they can live up to their advanced billing and contribute this season. Others, who come in with less fanfare and hype, are looking to show that they have what it takes to make it at one of the nation's premiere men's lacrosse programs.

Sophomores: Ten sophomores are on the Terps roster -- seven true and three (Justin Blye, Jared Gangler and Mark White) that are in their third years. Of those seven second-year sophomores, only Jake Bernhardt and Joe Cummings saw significant playing time last season. They will likely play important roles for the Terps this season, but have to improve and play an even bigger part if the team is going to be successful. The other five were all highly-thought of coming out of high school and now will be looking to earn time on the field. Some battled nagging injuries last year, while others changed positions. But, now with a year in the system, it's time to produce.

Juniors: There are 16 juniors listed on the roster, including Towson transfer Eric Boyle, who joined the team last year, but had to sit out after not being granted a release from the Tiger program, and Farrell. Some of the names are very familiar, not only to Terp fans, but college lacrosse fans around the country -- Grant Catalino, Travis Reed, Max Schmidt, Brett Schmidt and Ryan Young. No longer young players, these guys have played a lot of lacrosse over the past two seasons and they want to show they belong among the nation's elite. Others in this class were said to have a lot of potential (there's that word again) when they arrived two years ago and now is the time to fulfill that potential. With the Terps looking to revamp their midfield, guys like Warren Hansen, Bob Kercher and Scott LaRue will have to show that they can earn spots on a line and produce on the field. 

Seniors: This is the smallest group on the team with only seven (only five of which are four-year players), but this is the group (along with fourth-year juniors Farrell and Dan Burns) that will shape the team. Every team looks to its seniors for leadership. Some teams in the past have had strong senior leadership, while other teams have been somewhat lacking in that department. I'm betting that this team will have outstanding senior leadership. This past fall, the team elected Farrell, Bryn Holmes and Brian Phipps captains for the 2010 season. Each of those guys will push, pull or drag a teammate to get better to get to where they need to be for this team to be successful. 

To put a bow on this edition (which is really just the beginning) -- for any team to be successful, it has to be a player-driven effort. The coaching staff can want things and try things, but in then end it boils down to the players. Every one of the 49 guys on the roster has something to play for, to strive for. This is the beginning of a long journey. How it will end, no one knows, but let's enjoy the ride.