In the Terrapin field hockey team’s first top-20 test of the season, the Terps hope familiarity will breed not contempt, but success.

Today’s game at No. 16 Old Dominion (2-0) marks the 46th meeting between the teams. The No. 1 Terps (3-0) have played only conference opponents North Carolina and Virginia more often in program history.

“We play them once in September and once in October, and we have for years,” coach Missy Meharg said. “Keep in mind they’re a team that’s won nine National Championships. So it’s a really fun, challenging, postseason type of game.”

The epic all-time series between the Terps and Monarchs is tied 22-22-1 and includes four postseason battles. Throughout the 28-year rivalry, the teams have both appeared in the top 20 frequently and together have claimed 15 of the national titles in the period.

The Lady Monarchs dominated the series in the 1980s, winning all but one of the matches.

But in recent years, the tide has turned.

Since the Terps beat Old Dominion in the Final Four en route to the 2005 National Championship, they have won eight straight meetings.

But the Terps will not count on their recent streak to hold up this weekend.

“Winning is foremost,” senior back Alexis Pappas said. “We always want to win. ODU has always been a really great team … They bring a different style of play, and I’m excited to see what they bring this year and how we can come back against that.”

Old Dominion has already encountered its first ranked foe, pulling off a 2-1 upset against No. 11 Penn State in its season opener despite being held to just eight shots. But their firepower is not exactly lacking: They outshot unranked Villanova 24-7 in a 7-1 victory in their second game of the season.

The Monarchs’ progression in their first weekend was similar to that of the Terps, who started the season by winning two low-scoring contests before the offense found its rhythm in a 7-2 thumping of Northwestern on Monday. But it was not enough to satisfy senior goalie and team captain Alicia Grater.

“I guess you could say on paper it looked like it went well, but I think that there’s still a lot of room for improvement,” she said.

The team has used this week in practice to fine-tune their formation, which should help them move the ball up the field. They also started to work on a new formation for their repertoire, hoping it will give them the edge against the opponent the team knows so well.

“We know what to expect with Old Dominion, which is a very fiery, kind of championship-level energy,” Meharg said. “They don’t care who they’re playing against.

They’re going to compete. I’m just really eager to see a lot of our kids compete against a higher level, traditionally great team.”

TERP NOTE: The focus on tradition and history will continue throughout the weekend. In Sunday’s home opener against No. 19 Michigan, the Terps will honor the 1999 National Championship team. That squad beat Old Dominion in the quarterfinals of the NCAA tournament and Michigan in the final game to win the title.

yanchulis@umdbk.com