Coach John Tillman calls goalie Logan McNaney the quarterback of Maryland men’s lacrosse’s defense. The Terps needed their leader to dominate on Saturday against No. 2 Ohio State to have a chance against the hottest team in the nation.
McNaney delivered.
The graduate student recorded 10 saves against the Big Ten’s top offense, leading the Terps past the Buckeyes, 13-8, at Ohio State Lacrosse Stadium. The former All-American broke Maryland’s (9-2, 2-2) all-time save record with his 706th. The mark stood for 41 years, previously set by Kevin O’Leary in 1984.
“It’s a pretty special thing,” Tillman said. “We’re going to miss him when he’s gone … he’s represented that position well, but I think also has worn No. 1 really well.”
McNaney saved an open shot at point-blank range to set the record, something he’s consistently done. His journey to the moment was unconventional, though.
He made two starts in 2020 — a year in which Tillman initially thought about redshirting the freshman — before the season was canceled due to COVID-19. McNaney led the Terps to the national championship the following season before bringing a title in his junior campaign.
But McManey tore his ACL during his second game of the 2023 season, leading to Maryland’s first-round NCAA Tournament exit. He again led the Terps to the national championship last season, despite battling a hand injury.
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Finally fully healthy, Maryland’s newest No. 1 entered the clash against Ohio State (11-2, 3-1) averaging his highest save percentage of any season. He’s given up double-digit goals in a regulation game just once.
He was named to the 2025 Tewaaraton Watch List in February, an honor given to the nation’s top player. McNaney hopes to be the first Division I goalie selected for the award.
“He’s playing as well as he’s ever played,” Tillman said. “His emotional intelligence is off the charts … I don’t think there’s ever been a moment where people have worried that he’s been shaken or rattled.”
Maryland’s offense has struggled alongside McNaney this season, including a season-low six-goal performance last week. But the Terps’ midfielders led a rejuvenated effort against the Buckeyes.
Bryce Ford and Matthew Keegan notched respective hat tricks against a defense that primarily doesn’t slide to help short-stick defenders. The duo had help, with four Terps notching multiple goals.
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Fifth-year Daniel Kelly scored on the games’ opening possession, while senior attacker Eric Spanos — who carried Maryland past Ohio State last season with four scores — evaded multiple defenders and fired a strike to cap a four-goal first quarter for the Terps.
Maryland struck from various angles to keep 297-pound goalie Caleb Fyock guessing.
The sophomore entered with the third-best save percentage nationally but saved under half of the Terps’ shots on goal. Maryland constantly put him under pressure, winning 15 of 25 faceoffs and putting together a seven-zero run in the middle of the game to take control.
The Terps went scoreless for over 15 minutes in the second half, though, before Ford scored his third goal. McNaney kept the lead above four at all times and kept Big Ten-leading scorer Alex Marinier scoreless for only the second time this season.
“One of my biggest attributes is that I stay calm, cool, poised,” McNaney said. “Letting off body language that exemplifies that can help guys … kind of reassuring guys that we’re going to be okay, we’re going to come back, we’re going to win this game.”
The Terps excelled in all phases to give them another win against a premiere opponent. Maryland now has victories over half of the top-10 teams in Inside Lacrosse’s rankings.
