COLLEGE PARK, MD -- No. 4 Maryland led No. 11 Princeton from start to finish in a 13-7 win on Saturday at SECU Stadium. The Terps moved to 4-0 for the sixth time in eight seasons and the eighth time under head coach John Tillman since he was hired in 2011.
Maryland was led by Eric Malever and Eric Spanos, who had career days with five points apiece. Malever tied his career-high for points in a game on two goals and three assists while Spanos set a career-high four goals and an assist.
Daniel Maltz notched his 16th career hat trick and first this season in the win – he now has 99 career goals. Braden Erksa recorded two goals while Daniel Kelly and Ryan Siracusa added the Terps' other tallies.
Maryland's defense was once again terrific. Princeton (2-1) entered the game averaging 15 goals per game but was held to seven on Saturday. The close defense of Ajax Zappitello, Colin Burlace and Jackson Canfield shut down the Tigers' potent offense. Goalie Logan McNaney saved 10 shots and is closing in on becoming just the fourth Terp ever to reach 500 career saves.
Face-off man Luke Wierman was dominant in winning 20-of-23 draws as he added to his career record for face-off wins as he now has 703, with his ninth career game with 20-plus wins. He scooped a career-high tying 13 groundballs as he moves closer to second in all-time groundballs in Maryland history. He now has 378 as he closes in on Brian Haggerty's mark of 380, second all-time at Maryland.
Nate Kabiri led Princeton with four goals.
Breaking Down The Action
- Maryland scored three goals in the opening quarter with two from Eric Spanos and one from Braden Erksa. Both of Spanos' goals were unassisted and Erksa's came off a feed from Eric Malever. Princeton scored with 3:32 left, but Maryland entered the second quarter leading 3-1.
- The second quarter was nearly all Maryland as it went into halftime with an 8-3 advantage. Malever scored two goals less than a minute apart from each other. Daniel Maltz scored his first of the game and Spanos added his third of the game. The Tigers squeaked out a goal as time expired.
- Princeton and Maryland alternated goals in the third quarter. Erksa scored a second and Daniel Kelly scored his first of the game, a man-up goal. The Terps held a 10-5 lead going into the fourth stanza.
- Ryan Siracusa scored his first goal of the game and Maltz scored his third goal of the game in the fourth quarter. Spanos scored again to provide the dagger and the Terps advanced to 4-0.
Hat Trick Terps
- Eric Spanos posted a hat trick with four goals on Saturday. It was the third hat trick of his career. His last came against Michigan on May 6, 2023.
- Daniel Maltz also posted a hat trick. It was his 16th of his career and first of the season.
- Maryland has recorded a hat trick in 75 of its last 77 games dating to Feb. 2, 2019. This includes a remarkable streak of 67 straight games with a hat trick through the late 2023 season.
Multi Terps Update
- Eric Spanos (four goals and one assist) had his eighth multi-point game and sixth multi-goal game of his career.
- Eric Malever (two goals and three assists) had the 19th multi-point game of his career and 12th with multiple goals.
- Daniel Maltz (three goals) had the 38th multi-point game of his career. It was Maltz's 27th career game with multiple goals.
- Braden Erksa (two goals and one assist) had his 17th multi-point game in his two years as a Terp. It was his 11th career game with multiple goals.
Terps In The Record Books
- Luke Wierman became the program's all-time faceoff winner in the Terps' season opener. With 20 wins today, he has 703 in his career.
- Wierman is also climbing up the career groundballs list and is one of only three Terps in history to scoop up 300 or more. He picked up a career-tying 13 and has 378 in his career. Wierman needs three to pass Brian Haggerty (1996-99), who had 380 for second all-time.
- Logan McNaney is sixth on the all-time saves list. With 10 in the game, he now has 455 for his career. He is also 19 from passing Brian Phipps (2007-2010) and 45 saves away from becoming just the fourth Terp ever to reach 500 career saves.
- Daniel Maltz moved up the career goals list after recording three goals. He sits at No. 18 on the all-time list with 99. Next on the list are Ed Mullen (1972-76) and Anthony DeMaio (2018-22) who are tied at 102 career goals.
- Ajax Zappitello is now tied for 13th on the all-time caused turnovers list with one on Saturday, equaling Brett Makar (2019-23).
Single-Digit Defense
- Maryland is 122-11 since Tillman took over the program in 2011 when it allows nine goals or less. This was the second time this season the Terps held their opponent to single digits.
- The Terps have won 49 games in a row when holding foes to less than 10 goals.
- Previously, the Terps allowed just four goals to No. 12 Loyola in a dominant defensive showing. Ajax Zappitello held Loyola's Evan James (nine points in the season opener) without a point and Logan McNaney made 12 saves.
- The last time the Terps allowed less than 10 goals and lost a game was March 4, 2017 - a 5-4 loss at Notre Dame.
Score 10 And Win
- Since John Tillman took over the program in 2011, Maryland has won 155 of the 175 games in which it has scored 10 or more goals. The Terps have scored more than 10 goals in every game so far this season.
- Maryland went 10-2 in 2023 when scoring 10 or more goals with wins over Richmond, Syracuse, Princeton, Albany, Virginia, Penn State, Ohio State, twice over Rutgers, and at Johns Hopkins.
- Maryland is also 116-17 since 2015 when scoring at least 10 goals.
Series History
- Maryland owns a 35-12-1 advantage over Princeton and is 6-0 since John Tillman took over the Terps in 2011.
- The game was just the eighth regular-season meeting between the two national powers since the NCAA era began in 1971.
Home Cooking
- Maryland has won 24 of its last 28 home games and is 2-0 at SECU Stadium this season.
- The Terps are 81-18 overall in home games under John Tillman since 2011.
Numbers To Know
- 3: Eric Spanos posted his third career hat trick with four goals.
- 4: The Terps moved to 4-0 for the sixth time in eight seasons.
- 4: Maryland has scored 10 or more goals in all four games this season
- 4: Maryland had four multi-goal scorers.
- 5: Eric Malever matched his career-high with five points.
- 5: Spanos set a career-high five points.
- 6: The Terps scored two extra-man goals in the game giving them six on the season.
- 6: John Tillman is 6-0 against Princeton since taking over as head coach.
- 9: Wierman had 20 or more faceoff wins for the ninth time in his career
- 13: Luke Wierman picked up a career-high tying 13 groundballs in the game, his 14th career game with 10 or more and tying his single-game record.
- 16: Daniel Maltz posted his 16th career hat trick.
- 20: Wierman won 20-of-23 faceoffs, his 43rd career time with 10 or more in a game.
- 24: Maryland has won 24 of its last 28 home games.
- 75: The Terrapins have had a player record a hat trick in 75 of the last 77 games.
Up Next
- The Terps will play at No. 1 Notre Dame on March 3. The game faces off at noon and will be televised on ESPNU.
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