No. 2 Maryland Lacrosse Looks to Rebound vs. No. 7 Penn State After Triple-Overtime Loss to Michigan

The University of Maryland men’s lacrosse team finds itself in unfamiliar territory this week – bouncing back from a loss.

After opening the season with seven straight wins, including three top-5 showdowns, the No. 1-ranked Terps were handed a stunning 11-10 triple-overtime defeat by Michigan in their Big Ten conference opener last Saturday at SECU Stadium. It was Maryland’s first loss of the 2025 campaign and its fourth consecutive defeat to the Wolverines – a rare skid for a program that has long defined consistency.

The decisive blow came with 1:06 left in the third overtime, when a defensive miscue left Michigan’s Nick Roode wide open in front of the net. Roode took the feed from Emmett Houlihan and buried it past Maryland goalkeeper Logan McNaney, sealing the win with the Wolverines’ only shot in overtime and sending the Terps into stunned silence on their home turf.

“We’ve won some close games. This one didn’t go our way,” said head coach John Tillman. “There’s definitely some plays we’d like to have back… we’ll learn from that.”

McNaney, normally a brick wall in the net, had a tough outing – saving just 9 of 20 shots and recording a .450 save percentage, his lowest mark of the year. It was just the second time Maryland had allowed double-digit goals this season, and a stark contrast to their previous defensive performances.

Still, the Terps had their chances. After falling behind early, Maryland clawed back thanks to timely offense from veterans Daniel Kelly and Eric Spanos, who combined for five goals, and a midfield surge from Bryce Ford, who scored twice in the fourth quarter to tie the game at 10. Freshman faceoff specialist Jonah Carrier also made an impact, winning 9-of-12 faceoffs in his most significant minutes yet.

All 10 of Maryland’s goals were assisted – a sign of crisp ball movement but also an indication that individual dodging and creation were limited. Meanwhile, Michigan capitalized on defensive breakdowns with eight of its 11 goals coming unassisted, attacking with quick passes and well-timed off-ball movement.

Now sitting at 7-1 (0-1 Big Ten), Maryland must regroup quickly as another major test looms. The Terps host No. 7 Penn State (6-2, 0-1 Big Ten) this Saturday at noon in College Park, a high-stakes matchup that will air on Big Ten Network and serve as Senior Day for Maryland’s 13 graduating players. Among those honored will be Colin Burlace, Eric Spanos, Bryce Ford, and Jack Dowd.

Saturday’s game also marks a milestone in the program’s rich history, as Maryland celebrates its 100th season of men’s lacrosse. The Terps became just the third program in NCAA Division I history to notch 900 all-time wins earlier this month, and they boast the best winning percentage in the sport’s history at .755.

Penn State, meanwhile, enters Saturday with a potent offense led by senior Matt Traynor, who is averaging 4.67 points per game despite missing time, and freshman Hunter Aquino, who leads the Nittany Lions with 26 total points. Although the Lions are coming off a 13-9 loss to Ohio State in their Big Ten opener, they remain undefeated on the road in 2025, with quality wins at Villanova, Yale, and Cornell.

Recent matchups between these two Big Ten powerhouses have been split. In the 2024 regular season, Maryland erased a five-goal deficit to beat Penn State 13-11 in University Park. But the Nittany Lions had the last word in the postseason, steamrolling the Terps 19-9 in the Big Ten Tournament semifinals.

Maryland’s path to victory Saturday starts with a renewed defensive effort. The Terps still rank third nationally in scoring defense (7.5 goals allowed per game), but will need sharper communication and more discipline to avoid the breakdowns that plagued them against Michigan.

There’s also a milestone within reach for McNaney, who now sits just 18 saves shy of Maryland’s all-time record (705), set by Kevin O’Leary. He’ll have a chance to make history on Saturday – and give his team the rebound performance it needs.

With emotions running high on Senior Day and Big Ten title hopes on the line, the Terps have little time to dwell on last week’s loss.

By: Henry Lilienfeld

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