On the day the Michigan men's soccer team learned its draw in the NCAA Tournament, head coach Steve Burns was pleased that the Wolverines' bracket was free of traditional powerhouses until the later rounds.

“The boys always tend to think about what those programs have done in the past,” Burns said at the time.

Three weeks and a pair of NCAA Tournament wins later, one of those traditional powers now stands in the way of Michigan advancing to its first College Cup in program history.

The Wolverines face No. 2 overall seed Maryland at 1 p.m. Saturday in College Park, Md., for a spot in the tournament's final four.

Maryland (19-2-1) has a tradition as rich as any team in the field with four College Cup appearances in the past six years, including national championships in 2005 and 2008.

With two tournament wins under their belt, though, Burns feels his players are up to the challenge of facing the Atlantic Coast Conference regular season and tournament champions.

“Our team recognizes that we’re not playing tradition,” Burns says. “This is a completely different Maryland team, who is good, but certainly not as star-studded as in the past.”

Michigan junior goalkeeper Chris Blais says once teams are at the Elite Eight level together, the past is less significant.

“Obviously Maryland is a strong team. We have to respect that they have good players, but they have a respect for us, as well,” Blais said. “I like getting different competition and Maryland is a team we've never played before.

"Let’s just see who’s one goal better.”

Michigan’s 3-1 win over South Carolina on Sunday was the 37th of Blais' career, making him the winningest goalie in Michigan’s 11-year program history.

Blais and the defense played in front of him have been overshadowed by the exploits of Michigan’s prolific offense, which is just fine by the Seattle native.

“All I really care about is w’re still playing,” says Blais. “If we win 3-0 and I don’t have to do anything, that’s fine by me.”

Michigan (16-4-3) is on an eight-game winning streak in which it is averaging three goals while giving up 1.125. Maryland has won 15 straight, averaging just under three goals in that stretch while shutting out its opponents 12 times.

“Something’s got to give,” Burns says. “I think it will be a lower scoring, one or two goal game, but we’re capable of scoring goals on them.”

In its third round win over Penn State, Maryland’s direct style of play - in which they push the ball forward quickly, as opposed to building methodically - was disrupted by the nation’s leading goal-scorer, Cory Hertzog. Burns thinks could be a good sign for Michigan.

“We’ve seen when they are threatened by players that can get in behind them. They’re not as effective as a pressing team,” says Burns. “We’ve got a couple of players like Hertzog in Justin (Meram) and Soony (Saad).”

Michigan’s practice schedule in College Park was disrupted by snowy conditions on Wednesday and equally frigid temperatures are on the horizon for Saturday. Should the Wolverines pull off the upset, friendlier conditions await them. The College Cup is next week in sunny Santa Barbara, Calif.

But Burns hasn’t bought his sunblock just yet.

“We’re ready for College Park,” said Burns, insisting he hasn't checked any weather forecasts for California lately. “We’ll address Santa Barbara as it comes."

Pete Cunningham covers sports for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached by e-mail at petercunningham@annarbor.com, or by phone at 734-623-2561. Follow him on Twitter @petcunningham.