To outside observers, the Maryland Terrapin looks like a turtle. To the men's soccer team, it looks more like a monkey on its back.
In the last four years, despite playing in the NCAA Championship game and beating every other ACC rival, the top-ranked Blue Devils have not been able to shake the Terrapins.
"It's been a while-too long," said senior Eric Otto. "I don't know if it's anything specific about how we match up, but they are always a solid team. They really get up to play us. It's one of their biggest games of the year."
Duke (7-0, 1-0 in the ACC) last beat the Terrapins (4-2, 0-1) in 1993 and since then has suffered a string of losses, usually in fairly close games in which the Blue Devils have been favored.
Last year, the Terps added insult to injury when, after handing Duke its first conference loss in the regular season, they upset the top-seeded Blue Devils 4-2 in the ACC Tournament.
Duke is trying to forget last season and is taking Sunday's game in stride.
"We don't usually adjust our game to play people," Otto said. "But it's going to be in the back of everybody's mind."
This year, Duke feels things may be different. Aside from the revenge factor, the Blue Devils have some serious momentum on their side.
In the last week, the Blue Devils have beaten then-No. 1 Clemson, claimed the top national ranking for themselves and crushed Wofford, 4-0. Duke, however, is trying not to think too much about the ranking.
"We learned last year that rankings don't always mean a lot," Otto said, referring to the team's NCAA snub. "Rankings are not the end-all and be-all, but we do want to prove to ourselves and everybody else that we deserve the ranking."
But momentum is not the only reason the Blue Devils feel this may be their year to take down the unranked Terps. Although Maryland fields a potent offensive line, it will start an all-freshman defense and a sophomore goalkeeper.
Maryland has been hit hard by players defecting to professional leagues. Last year's starting goalie, then-sophomore Andy Kirk, left to turn pro, as did midfielder Judah Cooks, a second-team All-ACC selection. The Terps also lost sweeper and ACC Player of the Year Leo Cullen, who was the No. 1 overall pick in the MLS draft.
In their absence, Maryland's newest addition, freshman Taylor Twellman, has scored almost half the team's goals.
Despite being unranked now, the Terps were picked to finish first in a preseason ACC coaches' poll. Maryland's two losses this year have been to No. 6 Virginia, last year's NCAA runner-up, on Sept. 13 and to Seton Hall in the season opener.
The teams will meet Sunday at 2 p.m. in College Park, and for the seniors it will be a crucial match.
"I want to be able to graduate having beaten Maryland," Otto said. "It would be really nice to end the streak."
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