Todd Karpovich shares his latest power rankings for the seven local Division I lacrosse teams as well as his player of the week.
Player of the Week
Maryland Junior Faceoff Specialist Luke Wierman
Wierman set the tone for the Terrapins in their lopsided 20-8 victory against Loyola with a career-high 19 faceoff wins. Overall, he was 19-of-25 at the X and had a career-high 11 ground balls. Wierman added two goals and an assist. He only scored two goals during the entire 2021 season.
1. Maryland (2-0)
Previous Game: Defeated No. 14 Loyola, 20-8
Spotlight: The top-ranked Terrapins have scored 20 or more goals in the first two games of a season for the first time in 97 years of playing lacrosse. Graduate attackman Logan Wisnauskas (Boys’ Latin) led the way against Loyola with three goals and three assists. Graduate attackman Keegan Khan, a Villanova transfer, had a goal and four assists. Junior Logan McNaney (six saves) and graduate student Drew Morris (four saves) split time in goal.
Next Up: Visits No. 9 Syracuse Feb. 20
2. Johns Hopkins (2-1)
Previous Game: Defeated Towson, 18-12, Feb. 11, then lost to No. 3 Georgetown, 16-8, Feb. 13
Spotlight: Senior attackman Joey Epstein (Landon) scored six goals, including five in the second quarter, in the victory against the Tigers. Senior midfielder Garrett Degnon (DeMatha) scored a career-high four goals with two assists. Sophomore Tyler Dunn (Calvert Hall) was 20-of-32 on faceoffs and had 12 ground balls. Two days later against Georgetown, the Blue Jays could not overcome an 8-0 run by the Hoyas midway through the game. Sophomore midfielder Brendan Grimes led No. 16 Johns Hopkins with three goals.
Next Up: Hosts No. 14 Loyola Feb. 19
3. Loyola (0-1)
Previous Game: Lost to No. 1 Maryland, 20-8
Spotlight: The then-No. 7 Greyhounds could not overcome a 10-2 run by Maryland early in the game. Graduate attackman Aidan Olmstead (one goal, two assists) and junior midfielder Adam Poitras (two goals and one assist) led the Greyhounds with three points each. Senior midfielder Riley Seay also finished two goals, while graduate attackman Kevin Lindley, sophomore attackman Dylan Binney and junior midfielder Evan James also scored for the Greyhounds.
Next Up: Visits No. 16 Johns Hopkins Feb. 19
4. Mount St. Mary’s (1-1)
Previous Game: Lost to No. 18 Delaware, 12-6
Spotlight: One week after knocking off Navy, the Mountaineers could not keep pace with Delaware. The Blue Hens opened a 6-1 lead in the first half and never looked back. Senior attackman Kyle DeCrispino (Mount Saint Joseph), senior midfielder Jake Krieger (John Carroll), junior attackman Cormac Giblin, graduate attackman Brendan Lantieri and brothers Connor and Jared McMahon each scored goals for the Mountaineers.
Next Up: Visits Towson Feb. 15
5. Navy (1-1)
Previous Game: Defeated Mercer, 15-5
Spotlight: Senior attackman Jack Sweeney (McDonogh) scored four goals, while junior midfielder Patrick Skalniak had three goals and two assists to pace the Midshipmen. Junior midfielder Sam Dracobly had a hat trick for Navy, which outshot Mercer, 62-22.
Next Up: Visits Hofstra Feb. 18
6. Towson (0-1)
Previous Game: Lost to No. 16 Johns Hopkins, 18-12
Spotlight: The Tigers trailed by five at the break and could not mount a comeback against the Blue Jays. Junior attackman Andrew Milani (St. Paul’s) led the Tigers with three goals and two assists, while junior midfielder Kyle Berkeley (Calverton) scored a career-high four goals. Junior attackman Nick DeMaio, a Maryland transfer, added a hat trick.
Next Up: Hosts Mount St. Mary’s Feb. 15
7. UMBC (0-0)
Previous: Idle
Next Up: Hosts Drexel (votes) Feb. 19
Photo Credit: Courtesy of Maryland Athletics