Maryland men’s lacrosse takes on Syracuse on May 24 at 2:30 p.m. in the second of two NCAA Tournament semifinal matchups, with Penn State and Cornell facing off in the noon game.
This weekend marks the Terps’ 30th Final Four in program history. They’re now searching for their 18th appearance in the national championship game. They enter their semifinal game against the Orange at 13-3 overall.
One of those wins came against Syracuse, an 11-7 decision on Feb. 15. Maryland is a goal-and-a-half favorite this time around. The challenge the Orange will face in trying to win this game, according to ESPN lacrosse analyst Quint Kessenich, is that the Terps simply don’t beat themselves. They’re structured, disciplined and methodical in every aspect of the game.
“Maryland to me is two tight ends and two running backs,” Kessenich said on Glenn Clark Radio May 21. “They run on first and second down. They chew the clock. If they get to 21 points, they’re going to beat you. They’re willing to punt eight times and play the field position game. They’re not going to give up explosive plays. They’re not going to make mistakes in special teams. To me, that’s what this Maryland lacrosse team is.”
This Terps squad is more similar to the 2017 championship team than the undefeated 2022 group. In 2017, Maryland had six double-digit goal-scorers and two who scored 30 or more. In 2022, the Terps had 11 double-digit goal-scorers and five who scored 30 or more. This year, they have six double-digit goal-scorers and three who have scored 30 or more.
As is often the case under John Tillman, defense is the backbone of this year’s Maryland team. The Terps have allowed just 7.93 goals per game on the season (second in the nation) thanks to standout work from the likes of graduate goalie Logan McNaney (.595 save percentage), junior defenseman Will Schaller (22 caused turnovers) and long-stick midfielder Jack McDonald (46 ground balls).
Maryland has allowed just 11 goals in two NCAA Tournament games against Air Force and Georgetown.
“It’s imperative for Syracuse to find goals outside the six-on-six riding, whether it’s off of faceoffs, whether it’s on the extra man, they’ve got to do something in this game I think to take Maryland out of their game,” Kessenich said. “If you watch the Georgetown game last week, Georgetown’s built identically to Maryland. Georgetown tried to beat Maryland by playing like Maryland, and that was never going to happen. It was a one-goal game in the fourth quarter, but it felt like Georgetown was climbing up a hill. Maryland [is] so methodical. They have this iron will and they stick to their game plan.”
Maryland’s offense is led by attackmen Daniel Kelly (32 goals, 9 assists), Braden Erksa (30, 15) and Eric Spanos (30, 16). Though the Terps don’t have quite the same firepower they’ve had in the past, they can whip the ball around effectively for quality looks.
Kessenich mentioned that Maryland has only scored 70 unassisted goals on the season and suggested that Syracuse should try to force Maryland’s playmakers to create their own shot.
“If I’m Syracuse I’m saying, ‘Well, maybe I’m going to be slow to double team and force you guys to score off the dribble,'” Kessenich said. “A lot of times their dodges to the goal, they look like they’re fake. They’re trying to draw double teams and capitalize on the back side. If I’m Syracuse I’m saying, ‘Why don’t you guys try to score 10 unassisted goals today?’ When you start rotating defensively, this offense can pick you apart.”
The Maryland-Syracuse victor will have a little less rest for the championship game than its opponent, which will get a noon start on May 24. Historically, the better-rested squad has seemingly had an advantage with the quick Memorial Day turnaround. Is that advantage real?
“When you’re not deep, when you don’t really have a second midfield, when you don’t sub much at the midfield defensive position, it can be,” said Kessenich, a former Johns Hopkins goalie who won the 1987 championship and played in the 1989 title game. “I played in two championship games. In the second one, I felt like that was the difference in the game. The other team got a little more contributions from roster spots 10 through 20.”
For more from Kessenich, listen to the full interview here:
Photo Credit: Courtesy of Maryland Athletics