While No. 3-seed Maryland men’s lacrosse’s defense was steady during conference play — it held four of five Big Ten foes to single-digit goals — its offense let it down on numerous occasions. Saturday was no different.
The Terps limited No. 1-seed Johns Hopkins to just nine goals, including one third-quarter score. Maryland’s sturdy defensive play should’ve been enough to fuel it to victory, but the offense didn’t provide enough firepower.
Misfired passes and drops, all part of the Terps’ early-season struggles, resurfaced in the high-stakes matchup. Leo Johnson and Eric Spanos tried to will Maryland back from its three-goal deficit, but their efforts were thwarted after Chris Lyons’ game-tying shot doinked off the post.
That defeat put the Terps on the bubble of an at-large selection. They need to win three games in eight days during the Big Ten Tournament to feel safe about their postseason chances. In a season filled with national championship expectations, an NCAA Tournament appearance is now far from guaranteed.
Maryland must turn its attention to No. 6-seed Rutgers. The Terps open their conference tournament journey on Saturday at SECU Stadium. That game begins at 6 p.m. and will stream on Big Ten Plus.
What happened last time
After needing overtime to pull off its previous ranked wins, Maryland lacked a complete victory on its resume. The Terps answered the bell, delivering a signature 12-2 win over Rutgers to clinch their share of the Big Ten title.
But the start was far from promising.
The Scarlet Knights scored just 90 seconds into the game — one of Greyson Vorgang’s team-high two goals. The tide quickly changed on Maryland’s first man-up opportunity, as Spanos linked up with Spencer Ford. The Terps never looked back.
Seven different first-half goalscorers fueled Maryland to take an 8-1 halftime lead. Most of the damage came in the second quarter. The Terps netted six goals during the period, their most in a frame since the season opener.
Vorgang’s final goal in the third quarter snapped Maryland’s run of nine unanswered scores and Rutgers’ near 36-minute scoring drought. But the Scarlet Knights’ supporting cast failed to make an impact, leaving Vorgang as the team’s only productive attacker.
Colin Kurdyla, the Big Ten’s most prolific weapon with 28 goals and 27 assists, was a nonfactor while matched up against Peter Laake. The sophomore defender limited Kurdyla to just two shots and his first pointless performance of the season.
Riley Reese’s performance was just as impressive. Reese forced a career-high five turnovers and was instrumental in AJ Larkin’s transition goal, jarring the ball loose out of Vorgang’s stick.
While Maryland’s attack saw contributions across the board, it truly was the Eric Spanos show. The All-Big Ten second-teamer posted a team-high three goals, using his towering stature to get to his spots. Spanos added two assists to contribute to nearly half of the team’s goals.
What’s happened since
Just two weeks separate the team’s meetings, but a demoralizing loss on Saturday halted the Terps’ momentum and three-game winning streak.
It’s not much better for the Scarlet Knights. A 16-8 defeat to No. 2-seed Penn State added to the team’s three-game skid and left their season hanging by a thread. Kurdyla’s three-assist outing overshadowed his second consecutive goalless performance.
Eerily similar to Maryland’s relentless attacking pressure, Rutgers allowed eight straight goals across the first and third quarters. The Scarlet Knights couldn’t climb out of their six-goal halftime deficit, never stringing together a comeback effort.
Those losses leave Saturday’s game as a must-win for both Maryland and Rutgers. The loser will likely see its season come to a close.
Three things to watch
1. What version of Maryland is on display? The Terps’ season has seemed like a tale of two different teams. When Maryland’s offense is clicking, it’s shown the capability to hang with nearly any team in the country. The Terps are 5-1 when they score double-digit goals. But sloppiness has been the driving reason behind Maryland’s losses.
2. Faceoff battle. Henry Dodge and Jonah Carrier have been dominant at the X this season, fueling the nation’s fourth-best faceoff unit. That was true in the previous meeting — Maryland won 12 of the 18 faceoffs. If the Terps can string together possessions, they have the potential to create a sizable lead.
3. How does Brian Ruppel fare? While the senior goalkeeper wasn’t asked to do much in the last matchup, he’ll likely be called upon to make a timely stop late in Saturday’s game. Johns Hopkins peppered Ruppel low, and found success with that tactic. He still managed 12 saves to give Maryland a fighting chance. But if the Scarlet Knights expose a weak spot in goal, it could be a long day.
Ruppel, along with the rest of the Terps’ 18-player graduating class, is hoping to keep the season alive in likely his last game at SECU Stadium.
