#3 seed Maryland (7-5) vs. #2 seed Penn State (7-5)
April 30, 2026
SHI Stadium- Piscataway, NJ
6 PM
BTN
Watch
COLLEGE PARK, MD- No. 3 seed Maryland (7–5) continues postseason play in the Big Ten Semifinal against No. 2 seed Penn State (7–5) at SHI Stadium in Piscataway, NJ, at 6 p.m., with coverage on BTN.
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 advances to the Big Ten Semifinal after a 13–10 win over Rutgers, powered by a balanced offensive effort with nine different goal scorers. Eric Spanos led the way with five points (two goals, three assists), while Leo Johnson, Chris Lyons, and Zach Whittier each recorded two goals. Brian Ruppel anchored the defense with 11 saves, including a scoreless first quarter, and Henry Dodge dominated at the faceoff X, going 12-of-14 to help Maryland control possession throughout the game.
Maryland-Penn state History:
The Terps faced off against Penn State in last year's B1G Semifinal, defeating them 10-8.
Series history
- Maryland and Penn State will meet for the second time this season, the 47th time overall, and for the 12th consecutive year—a series that dates back to 1924. The Terps lead the all-time series 43–3 and are 2–1 against the Nittany Lions in the Big Ten Tournament, including a 10–8 win in last season's semifinal.
- Earlier this season, Maryland dropped a 10–6 road game to No. 9 Penn State. Despite the loss, the Terps held the Nittany Lions to 10 goals—just the third time this season Penn State has been limited to 10 or fewer. Goalie Brian Ruppel made 11 saves for his sixth double-digit performance of the year. Senior LSM AJ Larkin led Maryland with two transition goals, along with four ground balls and two caused turnovers.
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.
- Jeff Tambroni enters his 16th season as head coach of Penn State men's lacrosse in 2026, ranking seventh among active Division I coaches with 246 career wins. Tambroni has led the Nittany Lions to multiple NCAA Tournament appearances, including three Final Four trips, and has guided Penn State to two Big Ten regular season titles and a conference tournament championship. He previously coached at Cornell where he helped the Big Red to a run to the 2009 national championship game.
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 95.2% success rate in killing opponent penalty opportunities.
- Maryland has allowed just one man-down goal this season on 21 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 .625 win percentage, that ranks second nationally and first in the Big Ten.
- Senior faceoff specialist Dodge is leads in the country and the Big Ten winning 69.6% 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.
CONFERENCE domination
- Since joining the Big Ten in 2015, Maryland is 47-13 (.783) in conference play.
- The Terps are also a conference-best 13-6 (.684) 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 titles (2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2021, 2022, 2026). The Terps have also won the Big Ten Tournament four times (2016, 2017, 2021, 2022).
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 (46) and tied for first in the conference in points per game (3.8). He is also tied for second in total assists (19) and assists per game (1.6).
- Attacker Eric Spanos is tied for third in the conference in goals per game (2.4).
- In goal, Brian Ruppel ranks second in the conference in goals-against average (8.99). This mark is also 10th best in the country.
