FOXBOROUGH, MA – The Maryland Terrapins are championship bound—again.
With a commanding 14-8 victory over No. 6-seeded Syracuse on Saturday at Gillette Stadium, the No. 2-seeded Maryland men’s lacrosse team punched its ticket to the program’s 18th NCAA title game and ninth under head coach John Tillman. This sets up a heavyweight Memorial Day rematch against No. 1-seeded Cornell, the same team Maryland defeated for the 2022 national title.
The win pushes Maryland to 14-3 on the season, with an impressive 10 victories over ranked opponents and a return to familiar territory: playing for a national championship. The Terps are seeking their fifth NCAA title and third in the past eight tournaments.
“We knew it’d be tough today,” said Tillman after the win. “But I’m proud of the effort, the unselfishness—what these guys have done all year. We’re excited to have two more days together.”
A Statement Win Over a Storied Rival
Syracuse struck first, scoring just 45 seconds in, but that would be their only goal for nearly 27 minutes. Maryland responded with a ferocious 8-0 run, suffocating the Orange’s offense and silencing their top threats.
Redshirt junior Eric Spanos led the charge with four goals and an assist—his fifth hat trick of the year and 10th of his career. He was one of nine Terps to find the back of the net, a testament to Maryland’s depth and culture.
“This team is built on trust,” said long-stick midfielder AJ Larkin, who had his first multi-goal game. “No matter who steps on the field, we’re confident in them. That’s what Coach Tillman’s built.”
Lockdown Defense Defines the Terps’ Identity
Defense has been Maryland’s hallmark this season, and Saturday was no exception. Terps defenders Will Schaller and Jackson Canfield delivered elite performances, shutting down Syracuse’s leading scorers Joey Spallina and Owen Hiltz.
Maryland has now held opponents to single-digit goals in 14 games this season and boasts a 13-1 record in such matchups. The Terps are 139-13 under Tillman when surrendering fewer than 10 goals.
Goalkeeper Logan McNaney added another gem to his record-breaking season, notching 14 saves to extend his program-best total to 778. The sixth-year senior and 2022 NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player has now recorded double-digit saves in 15 games this year.
Memorial Day Showdown: Terps vs. Cornell
Next up is a much-anticipated rematch with No. 1 Cornell, who narrowly survived a tough semifinal against Penn State. The two teams last met in the 2022 title game, where Maryland completed a perfect 18-0 season with a 9-7 win over the Big Red.
This year’s final promises fireworks as two of the sport’s most consistent powerhouses collide.
Maryland brings experience, balance, and battle-tested defense. Cornell counters with high-powered offense and the top overall seed.
The championship game will be played Monday, May 26, at 1 PM at Gillette Stadium, airing live on ESPN and Westwood One.
Historic Program, Historic Season
- This is Maryland’s 47th NCAA Tournament appearance, a mark tied for the most in history.
- The Terps have reached 30 Final Fours—the most of any program—and are in their 22nd straight NCAA Tournament, also the most in the nation.
- Under Tillman, Maryland is 34-11 in the tournament, with 11 championship weekend appearances and two titles (2017, 2022).
- The Terps now have 906 all-time wins, joining an elite group of programs to reach that milestone.
With Memorial Day looming, Maryland lacrosse again stands one win away from glory. All eyes will be on Foxborough as the Terps aim to etch their name into the record books—again.
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