Clutch Third Quarter Lifts No. 6 Terps Past No. 2 Syracuse, 11-7

Saturday, February 15

College Park, MD

2 PM

Maryland

3-0

Syracuse

3-1

Team	1	2	3	4	Final F
Syracuse	2	3	1	1	7
Maryland	2	2	4	3	11

Clutch Third Quarter Lifts No. 6 Terps Past No. 2 Syracuse, 11-7

2/15/2025 3:00:00 PM | Men's Lacrosse

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COLLEGE PARK, MD – In a back-and-forth game with six lead changes and five instances where the game was tied, No. 6 Maryland men's lacrosse improved to 3-0 after defeating No. 2 Syracuse, 11-7, at SECU Stadium on Saturday. Maryland has won 15 of 21 meetings against the Orange, including each of the last seven. Head coach John Tillman is 7-0 in his coaching career against Syracuse. The Terps have held all three of its opponents this season to seven goals.

In a defensive battle, the Terps broke away from the Orange with four straight goals by Eric Spanos, Daniel Kelly and Eliot Dubick to lead 8-5 late in the third quarter. Spanos had two goals in the quarter and finished the game with two scores to go along with two assists. Kelly finished with two goals, netting another goal in the fourth that put Maryland ahead 10-6. Graduate Bryce Ford scored two goals, both in the fourth quarter.

BRYCE FORD DOES IT HIMSELF!!!

Maryland 11, Syracuse 7#BeTheBest pic.twitter.com/jyPhsN2EDO
— Maryland Men's Lacrosse (@TerpsMLax) February 15, 2025

Maryland limited Syracuse to just two goals in the second half, outscoring them 7-2 in the final 30 minutes. Overall, Maryland had eight different goal scorers in the game. The other goal scorers were Elijah Stobaugh, who scored the Terps' opening goal and recorded his first career goal, Matthew Keegan, Braden Erksa, Eliot Dubick and AJ Larkin.

Maryland's defense shined throughout the contest. Larkin, a long pole defender, scored the second goal of his career. Jack McDonald made his first appearance this season after missing the first two games. He racked up a career-high seven groundballs and a caused turnover. Logan McNaney made 12 saves between the pipes.

Shea Keethler and Sean Creter took turns at the face-off X, combining to win 12-of-23 faceoffs.

Syracuse suffered its first loss of the season and now has a record of 3-1. The NCAA's leader in points, Joey Spallina was limited to just four points (two goals, two assists) after coming into the game with 21 total points. The Orange were averaging 18.3 goals per game, but Maryland's defense shined with Colin Burlace, Jackson Canfield and Will Schaller.

This is just the sixth regular-season meeting between the two national powers since the NCAA era began in 1971, though the teams have met each of the last three seasons.

Breaking Down The Action

Maryland and Syracuse traded goals in the first quarter, and the teams were tied at two apiece entering the second. The goals for Maryland were scored by Elijah Stobaugh and Matthew Keegan.
Syracuse went into halftime with a 5-4 lead. There were already five lead changes and four ties in the game. All of Maryland's goals were scored by different players. Keegan and Braden Erksa scored the two in the second for the Terps.
The Terps broke away from the Orange with four straight goals by Eric Spanos (two), Daniel Kelly and Eliot Dubick in the third quarter. The Orange scored just once, and Maryland led 8-6
Maryland extended its lead with two goals by Bryce Ford and another from Kelly in the fourth. They outscored Syracuse 7-2 in the second half to earn the win.

Multi Terps Update

Eric Spanos (two goals and two assists) had the 18th multi-point game of his career. It was his 14th multi-goal game and fifth multi-assist game.
Daniel Kelly (two goals) had the 22nd multi-point game of his career. It was his 17th game with multiple goals.
Bryce Ford (two goals) recorded his second multi-point game as a Terp after transferring from Fairfield. It was his 43rd overall, including his 32nd multi-goal performance.
Braden Erksa (one goal and one assist) had his 27th multi-point game in his three years as a Terp.

Spanos extends the lead!!!

Terps lead 7-5#BeTheBest pic.twitter.com/3LC6LTF3rB
— Maryland Men's Lacrosse (@TerpsMLax) February 15, 2025

Celebrating 100 Seasons

The Terps boast a record of 896-290-4, dating back to the first varsity team in 1924 (a team was not fielded in 1944 and 1945 due to World War II). Maryland has finished with a .500 or better record in all previous 99 seasons. The program reached the 800-win milestone with a 12-6 victory on April 12, 2017, at Albany.
Maryland finished the decade of the 2010s 134-42 for a .761 winning percentage, making it the winningest decade in Terrapin lacrosse history. Nine of those seasons came under the direction of head coach John Tillman, who has posted a 122-38 record and a .763 winning percentage at the helm for Maryland.
During the decade of the 2000s, Maryland went 111-49 for a .694 win percentage. In the decade of the 1990s, Maryland posted a 95-47 record. The .669 winning percentage matched Maryland's win percentage of the 1980s when the Terps went 83-41 and also compiled a .669 win percentage.

McNaney On The Charts

Logan McNaney is fourth on the all-time saves list. With 12 in the game, he now has 621 for his career. Niko Amato (2011-14) is third on the list with 625 saves in his career.
McNaney is back for his sixth season. The 2022 NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player is wearing the program's historic No. 1 jersey this season. He's the first goalie to wear the number since Melvin Stephens (1989-91).

Pole Goal!

AJ Larkin continued the tradition of long pole goals, scoring the first of the season for Maryland in the second quarter. It was his first goal of the season and second of his career.
Last season, the Terps had seven pole goals. They came from Ajax Zappitello (two), Colin Burlace (two), Jack McDonald, Nick Alviti and Larkin.
In 2023, the Terps also had seven pole goals. In 2022, the team had 10.

You'll never see a cleaner LONG POLE JUMPER than this one from AJ Larkin 🤯🔥

(via BTN+ / @TerpsMLax) pic.twitter.com/6GYuZsi8f2
— TLN 🥍 (@LacrosseNetwork) February 15, 2025

Single Digit Defense

Maryland is 129-12 since Tillman took over the program in 2011 when it allows nine goals or less. It includes a 51-game winning streak when holding foes to less than 10 goals from 2017 to April 20, 2024.
The Terps have held all three opponents this season to just seven goals each. They have won all three of those.

Get To 10 And Win

Since John Tillman took over the program in 2011, Maryland has won 163 of the 185 games in which it has scored 10 or more goals.
Maryland is also 124-19 since 2015 when scoring at least 10 goals.

Eliot Dubick grabs the rebound and scores on the EMO to knot things up at 5-5!#BeTheBest pic.twitter.com/9n0oG6s4GO
— Maryland Men's Lacrosse (@TerpsMLax) February 15, 2025

Home Cooking

Maryland has won 30 of its last 34 home games, including both this season.
The Terps are 87-19 overall in home games under John Tillman since 2011.

Series History

Maryland has won 15 of 21 meetings against the Orange, including each of the last seven. This is just the sixth regular-season meeting between the two national powers since the NCAA era began in 1971, though the teams have now met each of the last three seasons.
The Terps won at Syracuse last season as George Stamos scored the overtime winner to secure the 13-12 victory.

Elijah Stobaugh scores his first career goal to tie the game at one!!!#BeTheBest pic.twitter.com/1pCjzPyIGB
— Maryland Men's Lacrosse (@TerpsMLax) February 15, 2025

Numbers To Know

1: Stobaugh scored his first career goal.
2: Dubick scored his second career goal.
2: Larkin scored his second career goal.
3: Maryland is 3-0 this season.
3: The Terps have held every opponent under 10 goals this season, as all three opponents have scored seven.
4: McNaney is fourth on Maryland's all-time saves list.
6: The Terps are ranked No. 6 in the Men's Division I Media Poll.
7: Maryland has won the last seven meetings with Syracuse.
7: Tillman is 7-0 in his coaching career against the Orange.
8: The Terps had eight different goal scorers.
30: Maryland has won 30 of its last 34 home games.
39: McNaney made 10 or more saves for the 39th time in his career.
100: This marks the 100th season of Maryland men's lacrosse.
129: Maryland is 129-12 since Tillman took over the program in 2011 when it allows nine goals or less.
163: Since Tillman took over the program in 2011, Maryland has won 163 of the 185 games in which it has scored 10 or more goals.