March 23, 2004

THE FACEOFF: The Bulldogs (5-2) travel to #2 Maryland Tuesday for a 7 p.m. faceoff against the Terrapins (5-0). The game concludes the first half of Butler's schedule, a frantic start to the season that saw the Bulldogs play eight games in four weeks. The game will be broadcast live over the Internet at WMUCSports.com. Live stats will also be available on www.umterps.com.

BULLDOG UPDATE: Butler enters Tuesday's game at #2 Maryland with a record of 5-2, having won two games in a row. The Bulldogs are coming off a home win Saturday over Division II Wheeling Jesuit. Junior Kyle Tietjen had five goals in the Bulldogs' 15-10 win. Midfielder Phil Brauch added a career-high four goals.

THE OPPONENT: The Terps continue to be ranked No. 2 in the Geico/STX USILA Coaches' Poll as they have posted a 5-0 record to start the year and are just one of four undefeated teams remaining in the country after four weeks of action along with No. 1 Johns Hopkins (5-0), Brown (4-0) and Yale (4-0).

SCORING STREAK: Junior Kyle Tietjen has amassed 16 goals and six assists in the Bulldogs' last four matches, improving his season totals to a team-leading 21 goals and 27 points. The Great Western Lacrosse League "Player of the Week" for the week of March 8 has found the net in every Butler game so far this season. The last time the NCAA released national statistics, Tietjen ranked 14th in the nation in goals per game.

LAST LINE OF DEFENSE: Junior Sam Ashley stood second in the nation in save percentage and seventh in goals-against average entering Saturday's contest with Wheeling Jesuit. On the season, Ashley has a save percentage of .656 and is allowing only 6.56 goals per game. He's started all seven games for the Bulldogs.

THE SERIES: Tuesday's faceoff is the third between the two schools. Maryland has won both previous games against Butler, winning 18-9 last season in Boca Raton, Fla., and 18-10 in the NCAA First Round at Johns Hopkins on May 10, 1998. This will be the first game between the schools at one of their campuses.