No. 2-Seeded Terps Face No. 3-seed Penn State In Big Ten Semis Thursday Afternoon

Thursday, May 1

Ann Arbor, MI

2:30 PM

Maryland

Penn State

No. 2-Seeded Terps Face No. 3-seed Penn State In Big Ten Semis Thursday Afternoon

4/29/2025 12:17:00 PM | Men's Lacrosse

Watch (BTN)Live Stats Game Notes Series History

#3 Maryland (10-2, 3-2 B1G) vs. #7 Penn State (10-3, 3-2 B1G)

May 1, 2025

U-M Lacrosse Stadium

2:30 PM (Note time change due to weather)

BTN

Watch COLLEGE PARK, MD -- No. 2-seed Maryland (10-2) opens up the 2025 post-season in the Big Ten Tournament semifinals against No. 3-seed Penn State at U-M Lacrosse Stadium on Thursday, May 1. The game is set for a 2:30 p.m. face-off and will air on Big Ten Network. Note the Big Ten Tournament has been moved up to start at Noon for No. 1 seed Ohio State and No. 5 seed Rutgers with the Maryland game to follow at approximately 2:30 p.m.

This year marks the 100th season of Maryland men's lacrosse. The program has produced 525 All-Americans, 29 Final Fours, and four NCAA National Championships. The Terps have remarkably also finished .500 or better in every season.

Where we've been...

This season, Maryland has wins over No. 18 Richmond, Loyola, No. 2 Syracuse, No. 5 Princeton, No. 1 Notre Dame, Delaware, No. 18 Virginia, No. 7 Penn State, No. 2 Ohio State, and Johns Hopkins holding all nine opponents to 10 goals or fewer. Maryland is 1-0 in neutral site games in 2025 with the win over Notre Dame coming in Atlanta.
The Terrapins first loss of the season came on March 22. Michigan scored the deciding goal with 1:06 remaining in the third overtime to top then-No. 1 Maryland, 11-10. Maryland lost again on April 5 at Rutgers, 8-6.
The Terrapins are coming off their NCAA-best 21st consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance and 29th Final Four, tied with Johns Hopkins for the most by any program. The Terps returned to the NCAA Championship game for the eighth time in 13 tournaments and the 17th time in program history.
With the Terps' 13-8 win over Penn State on March 29, Maryland joined Johns Hopkins and Syracuse as the only three schools with 900 all-time victories. The Terrapins .754 winning percentage is the best of any NCAA Division I school and far outpaces the Blue Jays (.727) and the Orange (.709).

Scouting The Nittany Lions

Penn State is 6-2 this season and is also 0-1 in the Big Ten following its 13-9 home loss to Ohio State on March 23. The Nittany Lions are a perfect 3-0 away from Happy Valley this season with wins at Villanova, Yale and Cornell.
Matt Traynor, the 2025 Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year, leads the conference in points with 47 (4.3 ppg), despite playing in just 11 games this season. Traynor's 32 goals was second-highest in the Big Ten this season.
Freshman Hunter Aquino, the 2025 Big Ten Freshman of the Year, is ninth in the conference with 32 points on 15 goals and a team-best 17 assists.
Veteran goalie Jack Fraycon, a two-time Big Ten Specialist of the Year (2023 & 2024), backstops a defense that is allowing just 8.85 goals per game, which ranks 10th in the nation. The Nittany Lion defense is the top take-away unit in the Big Ten, causing 10.46 turnovers per game.
Penn State head coach Jeff Tambroni is in his 25th season as a head coach and 15th in State College. He is 237-125 (.655) all-time and 128-85 (.601) with the Nittany Lions.
Nittany Lion associate head coach John Haus is a former Terrapin (2010-13) and played three seasons for Coach Tillman from 2011-13. Haus was a three-time All-American and is still tied for 58th on the career points list with 103.

Series history

Maryland is 42-2 all-time against Penn State since the two programs first met in 1924.
Since Maryland joined the Big Ten in 2015, the Terps lead the series 11-2, including a 2-1 record in the Big Ten Tournament.
The regular season matchup in 2025 when the Terps' way with a 13-8 home win on March 29. The Nittany Lions took a 1-0 lead, but the Terps scored eight of the next nine goals to put the game away. Braden Erksa and Eric Spanos each netted hat tricks, while Maryland's defensive midfield totaled two goals and three assists.
Last season, the Nittany Lions used a 7-1 run to open the game en route to a 19-9 victory in the 2024 Big Ten Tournament semifinals in Columbus, Ohio. Eric Spanos and Daniel Maltz each had a pair of goals to pace the Terrapin offense, but Matt Traynor and TJ Malone combined for 11 points for Penn State.
The two teams met earlier in 2024 at University Park in an instant classic. The Terps were down as many as five goals and trailed 8-4 at halftime. Down 10-7 heading into the third quarter, the Terps rattled off six straight goals and came away with a 13-11 victory. Jack Koras led the way with four goals and Luke Wierman went 16-of-27 at the faceoff dot.
The lone NCAA Tournament meeting between the two schools came in 2005. After a two and a half hour delay due to a thunderstorm, the No. 3-seeded Terps, behind four points apiece by Joe Walters and Xander Ritz, advanced with a 14-10 win in College Park. The Terps won the first 36 games of the series from 1924 until 2019.

Daniel Kelly again!

Maryland 13, Penn State 7#BeTheBest pic.twitter.com/gQ7OO8gcZi
— Maryland Men's Lacrosse (@TerpsMLax) March 29, 2025

Conference Domination

Since joining the Big Ten in 2015, Maryland is 44-11 (.800) in conference play.
The Terps are also a conference-best 11-5 (.688) all-time in Big Ten Tournament games. Since joining the Big Ten in 2015, the Terps have won at least a share of the Big Ten regular season title six out of a possible nine times (2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2021, 2022). The Terps have also won the Big Ten Tournament four times (2016, 2017, 2021, 2022).

This moment. This group. Even better at home ❤️#BeTheBest pic.twitter.com/3d7vAA35U0
— Maryland Men's Lacrosse (@TerpsMLax) May 8, 2022

Terps Represented in Big Ten Awards

Will Schaller was named the 2025 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, headlining a group of several Maryland men's lacrosse players who earned postseason honors from the conference on Wednesday, April 23.
Schaller was also named First Team All-Big Ten, joined by graduate goalie Logan McNaney and senior attackman Eric Spanos. Graduate long stick midfielder Jack McDonald was named to the Second Team, while three freshmen, attackman Jack Schultz, faceoff specialist Jonah Carrier, and defender Peter Laake, earned spots on the Big Ten All-Freshman Team.
Schaller has anchored a Maryland defense that leads the Big Ten in scoring defense, allowing just 7.54 goals per game. A three-time Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week, Schaller has collected 23 ground balls and caused 19 turnovers. This marks Maryland's fifth consecutive Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year honor and the seventh in program history.
McNaney has been a steady presence in the cage, posting double-digit saves in 10 of 12 games this season and breaking Maryland's all-time career saves record against Ohio State, eclipsing a 41-year-old mark. He leads the Big Ten in goals-against average (7.56) and ranks second in save percentage (.603). McNaney was also named a Top-25 Tewaaraton Award finalist.
Spanos has powered Maryland's offense with multiple goals in eight games this season. He leads the team in points (31) and ranks second in goals (21), placing top five in the Big Ten in both categories. He has been named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week four times and is also a Tewaaraton Top-25 finalist.
McDonald has been a consistent defensive force, recording a team-high 35 ground balls and causing 10 turnovers. He has also scored once this season and earned Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week honors twice.
Additionally, senior faceoff specialist Shea Keethler was named Maryland's 2025 Big Ten Sportsmanship Award honoree.

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100th Season of maryland men's lacrosse

TThe Terps boast an all-time record of 902-293-4 (.754), 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 and became just the third school with 900 wins on March 29, 2025, with a 13-8 win over Penn State.
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.
Midway through the 2020s, the Terrapins are 69-16 (.812), which is on pace for the second-best winning percentage for a decade behind only the 1950s when the Terps were 84-15-1 (.845). The only other decade with a winning percentage of .800+ was the 1970s, with a mark of 85-21 (.802).

Bill Pettit, who finished his career with a then-school record 103 goals, scored eight goals and added two assist in a 13-4 win at Penn State in 1964.

900 Victories

With its 13-8 win over Penn State on March 29, 2025, Maryland earned its 900th program victory. With that win, the Terps became one of three programs to reach 900 all-time wins.
Among the seven programs with at least 800 wins, the Terrapins' .754 winning percentage is far and away the best, outpacing Johns Hopkins' .727. Maryland is also the only program among the seven with fewer than 300 losses.
all-time winningest programs by percentage
1. Maryland: 902-293-4 (.754)
2. Johns Hopkins: 1033-383-15 (.727)
3. Syracuse: 954-386-16 (.709)
4. Navy: 847-396-14 (.679)
5. Army: 860-411-7 (.676)
6. Cornell: 820-502-27 (.618)
7. Hobart: 809-546-20 (.596)

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McNaney: Maryland's All-Time Saves Leader

With his first save at Ohio State on April 12, Logan McNaney officially became Maryland's all-time leader with 706 saves. He eclipsed Kevin O'Leary's (1981-84) mark of 705 saves, which stood for 41 years. McNaney current stands at 723 saves.
Maryland's Career Saves Leaders
1. Logan McNaney (2020-present) - 723
2. Kevin O'Leary (1981-1984) - 705
3. Brian Dougherty (1993-96) - 658
4. Niko Amato (2011-14) - 625
5. Jake Reed (1974-77) - 506
6. Brian Phipps (2007-10) - 473
7. Steve Kavoit (1991-92) - 416
8. Dan Morris (2014-18) - 410
9. Pat McGinnis (1998-01) - 404
McNaney is also Maryland's all-time wins leader with 58 victories in goal. The only other Terp with more than 40 career wins was Niko Amato (2011-14), who totaled 49 wins.
McNaney's 7.56 GAA ranks second in the country and first in the Big Ten, while his .603 save percentage ranks fourth in the nation and second in the conference.

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Lockdown Defense

The Terps have been excellent defensively in the 2025 campaign, holding its opponents to 10 goals or less in 11 of 12 games (and all 12 in regulation).
Maryland held its first eight opponents in 2025 to 10 goals or less. The last time the Terrapin defense had seven straight games allowing 10 or fewer goals was the final seven games of the 2017 season, when the Terps captured the NCAA Championship.
Maryland's scoring defense of 7.67 is the second-best mark in the nation and first in the Big Ten.
The Terps held Delaware to just three goals. The last time the Terps held an opponent to three or fewer goals was on March 14, 2015, when they defeated Villanova 11-2.
Maryland has held 11 of its 12 opponents to fewer goals then the opponents' season scoring average. Only Michigan (13 goals / 10.64 gpg) has scored more than its season average against the Terps.

Scoring Average Differences

Opponent	Goals/Game	vs. UMD	Difference
Richmond	13.64	7	-6.64
Loyola	9.29	7	-2.29
Syracuse	13.92	7	-6.92
Princeton	12.92	9	-3.92
Notre Dame	13.82	10	-3.82
Delaware	12.15	3	-9.15
Virginia	11.00	6	-5.00
Michigan	10.64	13	+2.36
Penn State	12.69	8	-4.69
Rutgers	9.13	8	-1.13
Ohio State	12.71	8	-4.71
Johns Hopkins	10.07	8	-2.07

Climbing The All-Time Points List

Starting with C. Rennie Smith, who totaled 128 career points from 1955-58, a total of 63 Maryland men's lacrosse student-athletes have reached the 100-point milestone for their careers.
Attackman Braden Erksa became the 62nd Terp on the 100-career-points list with his 2-point effort in Maryland's 11-10 win over No. 1 Notre Dame (3/1/25) in his home state of Georgia. He is now 36th with 123 points.
Attackman Daniel Kelly added his name to the 100-point list as the 63rd entrant with his 3-point game at No. 2 Ohio State on April 12, 2025. He is currently tied for 60th with 102 points.
Erksa on Maryland's Career Points List
1. Alan Lowe (1965-67) - 124
2. Braden Erksa (2023-present) - 118
3. Ron Martinello (1978-81) - 121
4. Mike Chanenchuk (2012-14) - 121
5. Bubba Fairman (2017-22) - 121
6. Dick Corrigan (1954-58) - 119
7. Bill Pettit (1962-64) - 118
8. Joe Cummings (2009-12) - 116
9. Dave Dempsey (1971-74) - 114
10. Travis Reed (2008-11) - 113
11. Max Ritz (2005-08) - 111
12. Xander Ritz (2004-06) - 110
13. Brian Zeller (1996-00) - 110
14. Roger Tuck (1973-76) - 110
15. Brian Willard (1984-87) - 109
16. Owen Blye (2010-13) - 109
17. Tim Rotanz (2014-18) - 109
18. Bud Beardmore (1960-62) - 108
19. Jay Carlson (2012-15) - 108
20. Bill McGlone (2003-06) - 107
21. Andrew "Buggs" Combs (1998-01) - 106
22. James Keating (1953-56) - 105
23. Eric Malever (2021-24) - 105
24. Steve La Vaute (1966-68) - 103
25. John Haus (2010-13) - 103
26. Chris Dail (1990-92) - 102
27. Daniel Kelly (2021-25) - 102
28. Tom Worstell (1985-88) - 101
29. Bryan Cole (2012-16) - 101
Attackman Eric Spanos could also join the 100-point club soon. He currently has 95 points on 64 goals and 31 assists.