PHILADELPHIA – No. 7 seed Maryland men's lacrosse was defeated by top-seeded Notre Dame, 15-5, in the NCAA Championship Game on Memorial Day at Lincoln Financial Field before 31,479 fans. The game was a match-up of the two previous champions.
The Terps (11-6) finished their season having played in the NCAA championship game for the eighth time in 13 tournaments and the 17th time in program history. Only Johns Hopkins (18) has more finals appearances.
Maryland opened the game by scoring the first two goals. However, Notre Dame responded by scoring 10 of the following 12 goals to lead 10-4 at halftime. The Irish sustained their lead until the final whistle.
Daniel Kelly led the Terps with two goals, scoring multiple goals in five of his last seven games. He was named to the NCAA All-Tournament Team while posting seven goals and two assists for nine points in Maryland's four tournament games.
Eric Malever (one goal and two assists) was one of four Terps to record multiple points.
Ryan Siracusa (one goal and one assist) finished his breakout season by scoring a goal in 16 of 17 games.
Jack Koras (one goal and one assist) ended his tournament run with seven goals.
Enners Outstanding Player of the Year Award winner Ajax Zappitello drew the assignment of slowing down 2024 ACC Offensive Player of the Year and First-Team All-American Pat Kavanagh. Zappitello held him without a goal for the first time in 16 games, as he was held goalless in the first game of the season. Zappitello was also named to the All-Tournament Team, totaling seven caused turnovers and six ground balls.
Luke Wierman won 17-of-24 face-offs and picked up six ground balls to cap off an impressive tournament run. He finished 72-of-101 in the NCAA Tournament with 39 ground balls, earning him an All-Tournament selection.
Notre Dame (16-1) won its second title in a row as the Irish extended their winning streak to 14 games, its most consecutive wins since winning 15 straight in 2009. Chris Kavanagh led the Irish with five goals, and brother Pat Kavanaugh had six assists. Goalie Liam Entenmann made 15 saves.
The start of the game was delayed for two hours due to thunderstorms in the Philadelphia area.
Tillman's Take
"That be the best mentality, Bud Beardmore started it, we've just emphasized it," Head Coach John Tillman said. "These kids have really bought into it. Were we the best lacrosse team? We weren't. But I'll tell you what, I think we maxed out what we could and I'm not gonna sleep really well, but I'll sleep better knowing how much the staff, the kids, everybody put into it because there really wasn't much we left on the table."
From The Guys
"I can't speak highly enough about the group that we have in that locker room," said Daniel Kelly. "We've been through a lot a lot of ups and downs but we stuck together and we never lost hope. This is a group that believes in one another and I wouldn't trade anybody in that locker room for anybody else. I truly love all 50 of those guys and Terps lacrosse will back. We will be back next year."
Breaking Down The Action
- Maryland netted the first two goals of the game courtesy of Ryan Siracusa and Daniel Kelly. Siracusa's goal occurred just 34 seconds into the game. But Notre Dame responded with a 5-1 scoring run to lead 5-3 at the end of the first. Jack Koras scored the third goal for the Terps.
- The Irish held a 10-4 advantage at halftime. Eric Malever broke up a run of seven unanswered goals by Notre Dame in the second quarter on a man-up opportunity with 1:15 remaining in the first half.
- Notre Dame increased its lead to 14-5 entering the final period. Kelly scored the lone goal in the quarter for the Terps, his second of the afternoon.
NCAA Numbers
- In 46 appearances, Maryland is 73-42 all-time in the tournament, with 29 Final Four trips and 17 Championship Game appearances. They have also made eight of the last 13 title games.
- Under Coach Tillman, the Terps have made every tournament since 2011, going 31-11 and earning 11 championship weekend appearances.
- This was Maryland's 46th appearance in the NCAA Tournament and an NCAA-best 21st straight appearance. The next highest NCAA postseason streak is six (Virginia and Georgetown).
Terps In The Record Books
- Luke Wierman ended his career as the program's all-time faceoff winner. With 17 wins today, he added to his career total of 881.
- Wierman also finished as the program's leader in career ground balls. He picked up six and now has 472 in his career.
- Wierman finished with 133 ground balls his season, ranking as the fourth most in a single-season at Maryland, he holds the second (160) and third (136) marks in history. He also finished with 244 face-off wins this season, ranking as the third most in a single-season at Maryland. He holds the top two marks with 298 in 2022 and 252 in 2023.
- Logan McNaney wrapped up his career by placing fourth on the all-time saves list. With 10 in the game, he now has 585 for his career. Niko Amato (2011-14) is third on the list with 625 saves in his career.
- McNaney's 210 saves in a single season rank fifth all-time in a tie with Pat McGinnis in 2000.
- Ajax Zappitello finished his career placing him tied for fifth on the all-time list of caused turnovers. He added one on Monday, giving him 75 in his career, breaking a three-way tie, and tying Joe Cinosky (2005-08). Brett Schmidt (2008-11) is fourth with 79 caused turnovers.
- Daniel Maltz also ranks tied at 23rd on the career points list. He scored one point to increase his career total to 157. Maltz tied Mark Douglas (1988-91). Ryan Young (2008-11) ranks 22nd with 163 points.
Multi Terps Update
- Daniel Kelly (two goals) had the 19th multi-point game of his career and his 14th game with multiple goals.
- Eric Malever (one goal and two assists) had his 27th multi-point game. It was his 18th game recording multiple assists.
- Ryan Siracusa (one goal and one assist) recorded the 12th multi-point game of his career, nine of which occurred this season.
- Jack Koras (one goal and one assist) recorded his 23rd multi-point career game.
Numbers To Know
- 3: Daniel Kelly, Ajax Zappitello and Luke Wierman were all named to the NCAA All-Tournament Team.
- 5: Kelly had multiple goals in five of his last seven games.
- 7: Jack Koras had seven goals in the NCAA Tournament.
- 8: Maryland made eight of the last 13 NCAA Championship games.
- 16: Ryan Siracusa scored a goal in 16 of 17 games this season.
- 17: Maryland played in the championship game for the 17th time in program history, second-most of any team in NCAA history behind Johns Hopkins (18).
- 21: This was Maryland's 21st consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance.
- 54: Wierman won 17 face-offs to give him his 54th career game with 10 or more wins in a game.
- 72: Wierman won 72 face-offs in the NCAA Tournament for a 71 percentage.
- 75: Zappitello finished with 75 caused turnovers in his career, fifth-most in a Maryland career.
- 133: Wierman finished with 133 ground balls his season, ranking as the fourth most in a single season at Maryland. He also holds the second (160) and third (136) marks in history.
- 244: Wierman finished with 244 face-off wins this season, ranking as the third most in a single season at Maryland. He holds the top two marks with 298 in 2022 and 252 in 2023.
- 472: Wierman closed his career with 472 career ground balls, a Maryland career record.
- 585: Logan McNaney ended fourth in career saves with 585.
- 881: Wierman finished his career with 881 career face-off wins, the most in Maryland history.
