Maryland men’s lacrosse senior Brian Ruppel recently chatted with PressBox about his memories from Catonsville High School, waiting his turn behind Logan McNaney and more. The 6-foot, 185-pound goalie posted an 11.25 goals-against average and .484 save percentage in 13 games in 2023, then served as a backup in 2024 and 2025. The Catonsville native is set to start in 2026.
PressBox: How did you first become interested in lacrosse?
Brian Ruppel: My dad, [Stephen], played lacrosse in college. He went to Radford. My brother, [also Stephen], played. He went to Lynchburg University. Growing up, I was around lacrosse my whole life. It was really big in my family. My brother was a big influence on [me]. Watching him play college lacrosse, it quickly became my dream to play lacrosse. I’ve always had a stick in my hand since I was young. I always had that dream to play college lacrosse at this level.
PB: Who was the biggest influence on your game growing up?
BR: I watched a lot of Maryland lacrosse. I was always a huge Maryland lacrosse fan. I remember watching guys like Niko Amato when I was really young, Kyle Bernlohr when I got a little bit older. Those are the two that I can really remember. Watching those guys play, I thought they were really, really good. Being a Maryland fan from a really young age, those guys were really inspirations to me, really made myself dream really big about coming to Maryland and kind of following those guys’ footsteps, which is really cool to say and do that to this day.
PB: How did you become a goalie?
BR: When I was young I played attack, actually, which was my dad’s position. Playing club ball — must have been middle school age or whatever — I don’t even remember, honestly. It was more of just like, “Hey, I’m going to try it out.” I just liked the stick. I thought the big stick was cool. I remember getting my first-ever lacrosse stick. It actually had the Maryland flag on top. I’ll never forget, which is just really cool to think about. I wanted to give it a shot. I wasn’t the fastest kid out there. Thankfully my club coach at the time, Brian Reese, suggested it and said, “Hey, why don’t you try it out?” I ran with it from there.
PB: What are your favorite memories from playing at Catonsville High School?
BR: Catonsville was awesome. I think deciding to go there with a bunch of my good friends was just an awesome experience, something I’m super glad I did — some of the most fun times we’ve had. We made it to the [Class 4A state championship in 2021], had a nice run there. Doing that alongside some of my best friends [who now] play at Towson [and] James Madison — we grew up playing together since we were super, super young — and also just following the footsteps of my brother, [who] went to Catonsville High. It was a dream to follow in those footsteps. We had some really good wins my senior year, made it to the state semifinals. But I think just playing there, playing for my home was super, super cool for me.
PB: Why did you choose to go to Maryland?
BR: Since I was really young, it was a dream, obviously. I was always a huge Maryland fan. When [head coach John Tillman] called, it all clicked. It was all virtual because it during COVID, but seeing the campus, got calls from some [players]. Meeting those guys was super cool. They [welcomed] you with open arms and really just wanted to be a part of this culture, the culture that was built. The be-the-best culture is something the coaches tell you [about] in the recruiting process, and they’re not lying. It’s really, truly be your best every single day. We take pride in that. I think it was a dream come true to come play for my home state at Maryland.
PB: What was it like to play as much as you did as a true freshman in 2023 after starting goalie Logan McNaney went down with a knee injury? What did you learn?
BR: It was definitely super cool. It was a lot of highs and lows. Being a freshman, it’s all super new. Obviously what happened with Logan, that whole situation was a terrible situation but just try to make the best with what we were given. It was a lot of fun. Playing with some of those older guys like [Brett Makar, John Geppert and Ajax Zappitello] was super, super fun. But obviously, it didn’t end the way we wanted it. I learned a lot. I think I matured a lot. The game I think settled down for me a lot. It slowed down. [I’m] seeing it from a different view than I think I did as a freshman. Definitely I think I’ve grown a lot from that moment. I’m extremely excited to hopefully show [it] this year.
PB: You didn’t play much the past two seasons after McNaney returned. Why did you choose to stick around at Maryland rather than transfer for a chance to play right away?
BR: I’m at Maryland. There’s nothing better than this place. It’s about the guys. That was never even a thought. I love these guys. I love this team. I love this school. I love the coaches. That was never even on my mind. I would never leave these guys. These are my boys. Playing for Maryland is the coolest thing ever. We say every day, “How lucky are we? We are the luckiest guys alive to play for the University of Maryland.” We truly believe that. Whether you’re the first guy out on the field or the last guy on the bench, I truly think we’re super lucky every day to get to do what we do. Getting to do it at this place I think is super, super special.
PB: What did you learn from McNaney?
BR: A lot. Obviously Logan’s super, super good at what he did. My freshman year, [I talked with him] about his approach to games. He was always super cool, calm and collected. He never got too high, never got too low. That’s just something I think I try to use in my game. Obviously, he’s just super good. He’s been good at this level. He’s now good in the PLL. Just trying to pick his brain — really, small things but things that I think really helped him excel. But really, I think the mental aspect of the game — just how he keeps himself so calm, cool and collected — is what I try to take away the most.
PB: How do you develop as a goalie when you’re not playing in games?
BR: I think there are a lot of ways. I think it’s easy as a backup goalie to get stuck on the bench and kind of feel sorry for yourself, but there are so many opportunities at practice. We practice just about every day. Just trying to find a way to get 1 percent better every single day because you kind of think, “Yeah, I’m behind Logan, but eventually I’m going to get my opportunity.” … Take it and run with it. Try to come out with the same headspace every single day and try to get 1 percent better, be my best person, player every single day and kind of let the rest take care of itself.
PB: What are John Tillman’s expectations for his goalies other than stopping the ball?
BR: I think stopping the ball is a big aspect, obviously, being the goalie, 100 percent. But a lot of it is trying to be part of the team. Be one of the seven guys on defense. Talk to the defense the whole time, obviously save the ball and then clear the ball efficiently. Clearing, we take a lot of pride in that. We want to get the ball up and out, and we want to be really, really efficient with that [with as few] turnovers on the clear as possible. But yeah, saving the ball definitely does help.
PB: What’s your favorite memory at Maryland so far?
BR: I think the last two years those runs to the Final Four, championship game obviously were super, super cool — playing in the Linc, playing in Gillette were awesome. I think my freshman year was a lot of fun, a lot of ups and downs. The Virginia game was a lot of fun. The Princeton game was a lot of fun. Obviously, a lot of fun games. Hopefully we can get the job done this year. That’ll kind of put the cherry on top, for sure.
PB: What’s your favorite thing about College Park?
BR: The people. I think the people are so special here — obviously my teammates, but my classmates and my professors really want to help you. I think that’s super cool. It’s Maryland. Being at your home state I think is the coolest thing ever, being able to have that Maryland pride.
PB: What advice do you have for younger players going through the recruiting process?
BR: First, enjoy it. Obviously it’s a cool opportunity. And then just really take it all in. I think some people can get stuck up in the gear, all the stuff that doesn’t really matter as much. Take into account the guys you’re going to be with, the coaches. The guys are super important. Really take that into account. You’re going to be around these guys for the next four or five years for me — living with them, doing everything with them, so really get to know the guys, understand what you’re getting yourself into.
PB: What are your goals for after lacrosse?
BR: Try to make a positive impact on my community, whatever that is. I don’t know exactly what I want to do yet, but whatever I do end up doing I want to make a positive impact. I don’t want to just go to work every day and go through the motions. I want to make a positive impact, whether it’s my community, this country, this world as a whole. [That] is definitely a goal of mine.
Photo Credit: Courtesy of Maryland Athletics
Issue 297: February / March 2026
Originally published Feb. 18, 2026