#3 seed Maryland (6-5, 3-2 B1G) vs. #6 seed Rutgers (8-6, 1-4 B1G)
April 25, 2026
SECU Stadium
6 PM
B1G+
Watch
COLLEGE PARK, MD- No. 3 seed Maryland (6–5, 3–2 B1G) opens postseason play in the Big Ten Quarterfinal against no. 6 seed Rutgers (8–6, 1–4 B1G) at SECU Stadium at 6 p.m., with coverage on B1G+.
The 2026 campaign represents the 101st season of Maryland men's lacrosse. The program has produced 532 All-Americans, appeared in 30 Final Fours, and captured four NCAA national championships. The Terps have finished .500 or better in every season.
Where we've been ...
- The reigning national runner-up Terrapins are coming off an NCAA-best 22nd consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance and their 30th Final Four overall, the most of any program. Maryland advanced to the NCAA Championship game for the ninth time in the last 14 tournaments and the 18th time in program history, beating Syracuse 14-8 in the NCAA Semifinal. The Terps finished 14–4 and recorded double-digit wins for the 22nd straight season, the longest active streak in NCAA Division I men's lacrosse.
- Maryland heads into the postseason following a narrow 9–8 loss to Johns Hopkins in a defensive battle. Despite the loss, Brian Ruppel delivered a standout 12-save performance in goal, while Leo Johnson recorded a hat trick, two coming in the fourth quarter, to keep the Terps within striking distance. Chris Lyons, AJ Larkin, Eric Spanos, and Elijah Stobaugh each added a goal, and Maryland's faceoff unit, led by Henry Dodge and Jonah Carrier, went 13-of-21.
Maryland-rutgers History:
The Terps and the Rutgers will meet for the second time this season.
Series history
- The Terps and Rutgers will meet for the second time this season, 40th time in program history and the 11th consecutive season, with the first matchup dating back to 1931. Maryland leads the all-time series 37–2 and has not lost to the Scarlet Knights in College Park since 1980.
- Earlier this season, Maryland dominated Rutgers 12–2 to clinch at least a share of the Big Ten title, using a decisive 9–0 run and a six-goal second quarter to take control early. Eric Spanos led the way with five points (three goals, two assists), Braden Erksa added four points, and goalie Brian Ruppel made eight saves as the Terps' defense held Rutgers scoreless for over 35 minutes and limited them to a program-record low two goals in Big Ten play.
About the coaches
- John Tillman is in his 19th season as a head coach and his 16th with the Terps, owning a 221-80 career record for a .734 winning percentage, the highest among all active Division I coaches. Highlighted by an undefeated 2022 campaign, Tillman is 201-61 (.767) as Maryland's head coach.
- Brian Brecht is in his 15th season as head coach of the Rutgers men's lacrosse team in 2025, having led the program since 2012. He has guided the Scarlet Knights to back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances in 2021 and 2022, including a Final Four in 2022, three NCAA Tournament victories, and two Big Ten Coach of the Year honors. Brecht has developed 35 All-Americans and 33 PLL players.
John Tillman is in his 19th season as a head coach and his 16th with the Terps.
Man-Down Defense Success
- The Terps' man-down unit currently leads the country and the Big Ten with a 95.0% success rate in killing opponent penalty opportunities.
- Maryland has allowed just one man-down goal this season on 20 opponent attempts.
Maryland's defense has allowed just one man-down goal so far this season.
SUCCESS at face-offs
- The Terps' faceoff unit, featuring Henry Dodge and Jonah Carrier, is one of the most successful in the country, boasting a .613 win percentage, that ranks fourth nationally and first in the Big Ten.
- Senior faceoff specialist Dodge is fourth in the country and leading the Big Ten winning 68.1% of his draws.
Pro Terps
- Five Maryland standouts, Will Schaller, Eric Spanos, Leo Johnson, Eric Kolar, and Braden Erksa, were selected in the 2026 Premier Lacrosse League Draft, tying Syracuse for the most picks by any school in this year's draft. Schaller (17th, Utah Archers) and Spanos (22nd, Carolina Chaos) were both taken in the third round, while Johnson (25th, Utah), Kolar (28th, Maryland Whipsnakes), and Erksa (32nd, Maryland) were selected in the fourth round.
- With the five selections, Maryland has now produced 81 professional outdoor lacrosse draft picks, the most of any college program.
Active Career Leaders
- Terp newcomers Leo Johnson, Chris Lyons, and Henry Dodge all rank on the national active career leaderboards in several categories.
- Lyons is currently fourth in the nation in career goals and third in the the nation in goals per game, totaling 143 career goals and averaging 2.80 goals per game.
- Johnson ranks among the top five nationally in total points with 213 and is also ninth in career goals with 123.
- Dodge is third among active players nationally in career faceoff win percentage, having won 63.3% of his draws.
B1G Leaders
- Several Terps rank among the top five in the Big Ten in key statistical categories.
- On offense, Leo Johnson is second in total points (44) and leads the conference in points per game (4). He is also tied for second in total assists (19) and second in assists per game (1.7).
- Attacker Eric Spanos is tied for second in the conference in goals per game (2.5).
- In goal, Brian Ruppel ranks second in the conference in goals-against average (8.9). This mark is also ninth best in the country.
