Maryland men's lacrosse team, seeded seventh, has once again showcased its resilience and skill, advancing to the NCAA semifinals for the third time in four years. The Terps rallied to defeat No. 2 seed Duke with a score of 14-11 on Saturday at Shuart Stadium. This victory marks Maryland's 29th Final Four appearance, tying them with Johns Hopkins for the most in history.
Maryland, now holding a 10-5 record, continues its impressive streak of 21 consecutive seasons with double-digit wins, the longest in the nation. The Terps will face No. 6 seed Virginia on May 25 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, with the game set to air on ESPN2 at 2:30 p.m.
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The Terps initially struggled, trailing Duke 5-1 at the end of the first quarter. However, Maryland's determination shone through as they outscored the Blue Devils 13-6 for the remainder of the game. Luke Wierman's dominance in the face-off circle played a crucial role in the comeback, and Daniel Maltz's go-ahead goal at 5:01 in the fourth quarter was pivotal. Maltz further solidified the win with another goal at 3:03, bringing his total to four for the game.
Braden Erksa scored at 10:16 in the fourth to give Maryland its first lead, capping off four consecutive goals by the Terps. Erksa finished the game with two goals and an assist. This comeback marks Maryland's largest in an NCAA Tournament game since their 2019 first-round victory over Towson, where they also overcame a four-goal deficit.
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Luke Wierman added eight groundballs to his tally, making him the program's leader in career groundballs with 456, surpassing Andy Claxton's record of 451. Wierman won 20 of 29 face-offs and matched his career-high with two goals, underscoring his significance in Maryland's victory.
Ryan Siracusa also made a significant impact, recording his first career hat trick and finishing with a career-high four points. Zach Whittier contributed with two assists, adding depth to Maryland's offensive efforts.
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Defensively, Ajax Zappitello held Duke's second-leading point scorer, Josh Zawada, to just one assist. Colin Burlace caused a turnover and picked up two groundballs, while goalie Logan McNaney made 11 crucial saves.
Despite strong performances from Duke's Dyson Williams and Brennan O'Neill, who combined for nine goals, the Blue Devils concluded their season with a 13-6 record.
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This marks Maryland's 46th NCAA Tournament appearance and their 21st consecutive appearance, an NCAA-best streak. The Terps have a historical record of 72-41 in the tournament, with 29 Final Four trips, 16 Championship Game appearances, and four National Championships.
Under Coach John Tillman, Maryland has made every tournament since 2011, achieving a 30-10 record and 10 championship weekend appearances. This year, the Terps continue their legacy as a formidable force in collegiate lacrosse.
Maryland will face No. 6 seed Virginia on May 25 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. The match will begin at 2:30 p.m. and will be televised on ESPN2, promising an exciting showdown as the Terps aim for their fifth National Championship.
