For the first time in program history, Maryland men’s lacrosse has defeated top-five opponents in three straight regular-season weeks.
No. 1 Maryland appears likely to make a deep NCAA tournament run if recent history is any indication. The Terps started 5-0 in 2021 and 2022, reaching the national championship in both years and winning the latter.
Maryland has dealt with inconsistencies early in the season, especially on offense and in faceoffs, where numerous new pieces have stepped into key roles. None of the Terps opponents have topped 10 goals through five games for the first time since 2016.
The unit held Notre Dame, who scored 29 times in two games against Maryland last season, to 10 goals. The Terps’ defense is tied for 10th in the NCAA in goals allowed per game.
“There's a lot of buy in to, ‘All right, what do we need to do with the game plan? I'm going to do my part, I’m not going to try to do more than I have to,’” coach John Tillman said.
Maryland’s defensive strategy centers on clogging lanes in the middle of the field to force players to attack from the perimeter. That gives graduate student goalkeeper Logan McNaney as much anticipatory time as possible.
[The Diamondback Sports Digest: Basketball buzzer-beaters and a new potential No. 1 team]
The All-American has saved 62 percent of shots and leads the unit alongside senior defender Colin Burlace. Junior defender Will Schaller has shadowed opposing stars, the role defender Ajax Zappitello previously held. The All-American was a notable departure, though the Terps defense remained primarily intact.
Maryland’s offense lost three of its five leading scorers from last season.
The Terps added only attackers and midfielders in the transfer portal. Attackers Bryce Ford and Matthew Keegan joined and are each top five on the team in goals in what’s been a balanced but up-and-down unit.
Maryland only averages the 38th-most goals in the country. The offense has had spurts of rapid passes from side to side leading to shots near the cage, like when the Terps scored five times in the fourth frame to rally past Loyola. Tillman wants his offense to more frequently play faster because there have been stretches where they’ve failed to apply pressure.
“Moving the ball quick allows players to attack approachers and defenders when they're coming out to play rather than when they're set … really helps you win those matchups and gain leverage,” junior attacker Braden Erksa said.
[Logan McNaney led Maryland men’s lacrosse past No. 1 Notre Dame after title game struggles]
Fifth-year attacker Daniel Kelly leads the offense with 12 goals, recording multiple in every game. Senior attacker Eric Spanos is second with 10 scores and notched a hat trick to help Maryland avenge its national title game loss to the Fighting Irish.
The Terps only won the third quarter against Notre Dame. They won about 67 percent of faceoffs in that frame to help shift the possession battle, but lost 18 of 24 overall.
Maryland’s extended runs have typically come when it's won clashes at the X. All-American Luke Wierman graduated off winning a nation-best 62.9 percent of faceoffs last season. Senior Shea Keethler and sophomore Sean Creter, the duo tasked with replacing him, haven’t brought the same constant advantage.
“We got to look at everything that we can do to help in [the faceoffs] because we're playing with fire. You slope the possessions that much and it's just going to wear your defense down,” Tillman said. “Those guys are working on everything from hand speed to technique to picking up ground balls to their exits.”
The Terps’ defense is a top unit in the country with plenty of experience. Questions loom about the offense and faceoff unit — if Maryland can answer them, it may be the national championship favorite when May rolls around.
