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University of Maryland Athletics

MLAX Huddle Vs Syracuse
9
Maryland MARYLAND 1-1, 0-0
11
Winner Syracuse SYRACUSE 3-0, 0-0
Maryland MARYLAND
1-1, 0-0
9
Final
11
Syracuse SYRACUSE
3-0, 0-0
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Maryland MARYLAND 2 2 4 1 9
Syracuse SYRACUSE 4 3 3 1 11

Game Recap: Men's Lacrosse |

No. 1 Terps Fall 11-9 In Clash With No. 2 Syracuse

Four Terps tallied multi-goal nights in their first loss of the season.

SYRACUSE, NY — No. 1 Maryland battled with No. 2 Syracuse on Friday night in a marquee matchup, but the Orange escaped with an 11-9 victory to earn their first-ever win against the Terps in the John Tillman era.

Elijah Stobaugh netted his first-career hat trick while Eric Spanos netted a pair of goals against the Orange, pushing his point-scoring streak to 20 games, dating back to last season. They were two of four Terps to record multi-point nights in Maryland's second contest of 2026. 

Following his five-goal performance in Maryland's season-opening win over Loyola Maryland, Leo Johnson stayed hot with a two-goal game against the Orange. He scored the night's opening goal and recorded his 43rd-career multi-goal game on Friday night. 

A four-goal third quarter helped the Terps pull closer as Braden Erksa scored his first two goals of the season, but Syracuse outlasted Maryland on its home turf. Brian Ruppel made a game-high 10 saves in net on Friday night. 

Henry Dodge led the charge on faceoffs for the Terps, snagging a team-high 11 while Will Schaller grabbed a team-high four ground balls on defense. The Orange got a game-high four goals from Jake Spallina as they moved to 3-0 on the season. 

How It Happened:
1st Quarter:
  • Ruppel made a save in the opening minute. 
  • Johnson blasted a shot past Syracuse for the first goal of the night. 
  • Syracuse tied the game three minutes into the contest.
  • Spanos' third goal of the season built a 2-1 Maryland lead in the fifth minute of action.
  • The Orange found the equalizer midway through the quarter.
  • Syracuse's third goal of the opening quarter gave the Orange their first lead of the night.
  • The Orange scored in the final minute to take a 4-2 lead into the second quarter. 
2nd Quarter:
  • Syracuse used a 4-0 run to open a 6-2 lead. 
  • Stobaugh netted the Terps' first goal of the quarter four minutes in.
  • Stobaugh's second of the quarter cut the Syracuse lead to 6-4.
  • Syracuse took a 7-4 lead seven minutes in.
  • The Orange lead held through the end of the second quarter.
3rd Quarter:
  • Johnson opened the second-half scoring with his second goal of the night.
  • Syracuse's first goal of the half reopened a three-goal lead.
  • Erksa's first goal of the season brought Maryland within two early in the quarter. 
  • Spanos scored again to cut the deficit to 8-7.
  • Syracuse quickly responded with its ninth goal of the night halfway through the quarter. 
  • Spallina's fourth of the night for Syracuse pushed the Orange into double digits.
  • Erksa netted his second of the night with three minutes to play. 
  • Syracuse led 10-8 with a quarter to play.
4th Quarter:
  • Stobaugh clinched his hat trick as Maryland came within a goal in the opening minutes.
  • Syracuse took an 11-9 lead midway through the quarter.
  • Ruppel made a big save with 2:30 to play.
  • The Orange held on for the 11-9 win to move to 3-0.
Multi-Point Terps:
  • Stobaugh (three goals, one assist) recorded his first-career hat trick and his fifth-career multi-goal game.
  • Spanos (two goals) recorded his 26th-career multi-goal game and his 35th multi-point game.
  • Erksa (two goals) netted his 26th-career multi-goal game and his 43rd-career multi-point game. 
  • Johnson (two goals) recorded his 30th multi-goal game of his career and his 43rd with multiple points.
Tillman's Takeaways:
  • "Great environment tonight. We expected a big showing and the environment was terrific. It was a great experience for our guys to come up here and play them. We knew it would be a challenge."
  • "We wish we would have executed some things better, but with so many new guys, being right there with them, I really like where this team can go."
  • "I believe in Ruppel. I think there's a couple he'd like to have back, but I think we can do a better job supporting him. We're lucky to have him and we're excited about the rest of the year with him."
  • "We're disappointed we didn't win, but there's a lot of optimism. There's a lot more in front of us and a lot of things to work on. I'm excited about our future."
Numbers to Know:
  • 1: Syracuse earned its first-ever win over Maryland in the Tillman era. 
  • 4: Four Terps logged multi-goal games.
  • 10: Ruppel made a game-high 10 saves.
  • 11: Dodge won a game-high 11 faceoffs.
Up Next:
  • Maryland returns to College Park to face No. 3 Princeton at SECU Stadium on Feb. 21. The game is set for 12 PM and will air on B1G+.
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