Luke Wierman Is Maryland's Head Hog

A prolific faceoff specialist is at the heart of any successful lacrosse team, who consistently wins possession for their team and is an efficient spark plug for the offensive effort moving up the field.

These faceoff specialists are gritty, unwavering in front of adversity, and face their opponents with stone-cold will a few dozen times a game. As a result, when a team's faceoff specialist does their job, their group is put in a position to dominate the attacking third of the field and come away with victories. 

Luke Wierman is that presence at the faceoff 'X' for the top-ranked Terrapins, who are off to a 10-0 start heading into Saturday's game vs. No. 9 Ohio State.

While Wierman, a junior, didn't play the majority of his first two seasons (seeing game action in only ten contests last season), the camaraderie forged between Maryland's group of talented specialists has allowed him to impact the game. 

"We call ourselves 'The Hog Pen,'" Wierman, a West Chester, Pennsylvania native, said. "Guys in the past came up with that, and we just kind of followed in their footsteps.

"Our mentality is, 'We're going to make our time on the field useful.' We're just going to make it hard for the other team no matter what. If they have the ball, we're going to do everything we can to get it back from them, even if they already have possession. When we're out there, we're going to make it hard for everyone else."

That mentality is baked into the position. So much so that the other faceoff specialists on Maryland's squad tend to make practices as uncomfortable as possible., pushing each other, something Wierman says benefits the group.

"Michael Roche and Shea Keethler are menaces during practices, honestly," said Wierman. "They chase us around and everything. They don't make it easy, and they make it similar to what the games are like … I think that's a huge reason why we have that mentality when we go out there.

"It's definitely a healthy competition. We're always with each other … we get under each other's skin and everything. We're with each other all day every day, but that's what makes us better, just getting under each other's skin and bothering each other. We know it's making each other better."

Head Coach John Tillman has taken note of the chemistry between the men at the faceoff 'x' and how it has played to Wierman's advantage. His ability to make consistent strides forward has helped him become the player he is today.

"There's never been this signature moment where he's gotten it," said Tillman. "It's just that Luke's doing better and better every day. Just these little hints of progress and it's been a bit by bit, so over time it's been huge. Last year he went from never playing, to coming off the bench which I thought was perfect. [Justin] Shockey was the main guy and Luke could watch and learn."

The healthy competition mentality is paying dividends for Wierman, who is ranked second in NCAA Division I lacrosse in faceoff win percentage (67.3%). He has won 169 of his 251 faceoffs and has taken most of the team's 317 total faceoffs. His ability to win the ball at the whistle and kickstart the offense has played a big part in Maryland's hot start.

Tillman, who is in his 12th season at the helm for the Terrapins, has played a significant role in fostering the mindset that allows the team to play so well, Wierman says.

"I'd definitely say that this year they have a lot of confidence in us. At this position, it's a huge mental game, so having a lot of confidence in us is huge, makes things easier for us for sure," Wierman said.

"He's really hands on this year at the [faceoff] position. We'll come off the field and he'll get his iPad out in the middle of the game and, you know, show us stuff that we might not be seeing out there and he's really helping out a lot."

Tillman understands the mental side of the position, a big part of his involvement with the faceoff specialists.

"You've got to handle defeat. You've got to be able to handle other factors. That's just being a faceoff guy," Tillman said.

Although the team is 10-0 and has toppled some of college lacrosse's most formidable opponents, Wierman is focused on the task ahead, taking the season game-by-game. 

"We have high goals ahead. And we know [winning a championship] will not be easy, but we also know that [championships] aren't won in February or March," Wierman said. "We all kind of have the mentality of just getting better every week, obviously. And that has a lot to do with how we practice."

"I think how we practice and how the scout team plays against us, they come out and play like it's a game every day. I think that's our biggest attribute, having those guys come out and just bother us … I think that goes such a long way and is a huge reason why we're at the spot we are right now," he added.

Wierman's progression to his success today has required tireless work and a commitment to his craft that most others can't replicate. But it's that dedication and the group around him that he's become one of the premier faceoff men in the country. And Tillman says he's just getting started.

"He's not one of those guys who comes in and you think will have an impact immediately. He's one of those guys where if he does the little things and puts in the work, he'll be ready. Now he's ready. It was important to get him ready."