Welcome to The Diamondback Sports Digest. Every week, we send you a rundown of the latest Maryland athletics news.
Spring is traditionally a high point for Maryland athletics, with strong programs such as men’s lacrosse, women’s lacrosse and baseball vying for conference championships. Halfway through April, most teams have lived up to their expectations, while others have struggled.
We’ll analyze baseball’s slump, men’s lacrosse’s critical win over No. 2 Ohio State and basketball’s portal additions.
Logan McNaney breaks saves record as Maryland men’s lacrosse ends unranked loss skid
Coach John Tillman’s team had a seven day break between its unranked loss to Rutgers and a road clash with No. 2 Ohio State. Considering the Terps’ recent struggles, Saturday’s contest felt like a turning point.
Logan McNaney ensured the Rutgers loss didn’t cause a spiral. The goalie who wears No. 1, the most prestigious jersey in the program, broke Maryland’s all-time saves record, which had previously stood for 41 years. He led the Terps to a 13-8 ranked win.
It was a fitting performance for one of Maryland’s best players in recent history. The graduate student suffered a torn ACL and a significant hand injury during his time in College Park, but still helped Maryland make three national championships. Now, his name is immortalized in the Terps’ record books.
Mixed weeks for women’s lacrosse, baseball
Goalkeeping and pitching have been women’s lacrosse and baseball’s most persistent issues this season, respectively.
Sophomore goalie JJ Suriano allowed 10 goals and only saved six attempts, finishing with a 37.5 save percentage in the Terps’ 13-9 loss to No. 10 Virginia on Wednesday. Maryland women’s lacrosse rebounded with an 8-5 win against Ohio State on Sunday.
Coach Matt Swope’s team also blew another late lead against No. 15 Oregon on Saturday, dropping the series opener to the Ducks after a midweek loss, 11-7, to Georgetown. The Terps claimed the second game, 12-2, but lost the rubber match on Sunday in decisive fashion, 13-3.
Offseason basketball roster changes
New Maryland men’s basketball coach Buzz Williams continues to overhaul the Terps’ roster. Williams added eight transfers this week, including Indiana’s Myles Rice, Kansas’ David Coit, two Texas A&M redshirt freshmen, Washington State’s Isaiah Watts and Virginia’s Elijah Saunders.
Rice, Watts and Saunders all started at their previous schools and, along with junior forward Pharrel Payne, could form the makings of a strong starting lineup. The entire roster from last year’s team departed, so Williams could use up to five more scholarships.
Top transfer Yarden Garzon also committed to Maryland women’s basketball. The Indiana guard averaged 14.4 points and made nearly 41 percent of her threes last season.
Best Bits
- No freshman has ever spoken to the media during Maryland football coach Michael Locksley’s tenure. Quarterback Malik Washington became the first to do so on Tuesday.
- Tillman played a key role in the NCAA’s rule change to the men’s lacrosse faceoff rules this season.
- Texas A&M transfers Andre Mills and George Turkson Jr. didn’t play during their freshman seasons, but still followed Buzz Williams to his next stop.
- Maryland softball suffered its 10th straight loss and its third straight series sweep on Sunday.
- Some Maryland men’s basketball fans are excited for the program’s future in College Park.
Stat of the week
Saturday’s loss to Oregon was the eighth time Maryland baseball’s opponent has scored a go-ahead run in the seventh inning or later — three instances more than in 2024.
Quote of the week
“We’re behind him. I think we’re a very passionate fan base. And I think with the way that Willard left, we will only appreciate Buzz more. We’re with him,” sophomore civil engineering major Daniel Thompson said of his reaction to new men’s basketball coach Buzz Williams.
