COLLEGE PARK, MD -- Led by an all-around team effort with stifling defensive and efficient offense, No. 4 Maryland men's lacrosse defeated No. 12 Loyola, 11-4, on Saturday at SECU Stadium. The Terps advanced to 2-0 on the season with their home opener win.
The Terps jumped out to a 4-0 lead after the first quarter and led the rest of the way as 14 different players recorded points and 10 scored goals – the first eight goals were scored by eight different players. Daniel Maltz scored two goals as the only multi-goal scorer.
Braden Erksa (one goal and one assist), Eric Malever (one goal and one assist) and Eric Spanos (one goal, two assists) all had multiple points.
The Greyhounds scored 18 goals in their season opener against No. 11 Georgetown last week. On Saturday, Maryland's defense held the Loyola offense scoreless for the first 19:30 of the game and held them scoreless again for the entire third quarter and a span of 34:27. The four points allowed by the Terps were also the fewest Loyola has scored in a game since May 14, 2017, an NCAA Tournament loss to Ohio State.
Ajax Zappitello was a big factor in the overall defensive effort. He held Loyola's Evan James to zero points on two shots after leading them with five goals and nine points on 11 shots against Georgetown. Colin Burlace, who scored his first career goal, also shut down his man. Adam Poitras was held scoreless after scoring four goals last week.
Faceoff specialist Luke Wierman added to his all-time program record of faceoff wins with 12 on Saturday. He now has 667 in his career. In his five-year career. Wierman also picked up a game-high seven groundballs and is closing in on second in that category in the Maryland record books.
Goalie Logan McNaney saved 12 shots throughout the contest, allowing just four goals.
Loyola moved to 1-1 on the season. Four Greyhounds scored during the contest with no player recording more than one point.
Breaking Down The Action
- Maryland struck first with a goal by Zach Whittier and strung together two more goals in less than two minutes by Eric Malever and Owen Murphy. George Stamos later recorded his first career goal to end the quarter with the Terps holding a 4-0 advantage. Loyola scored five goals in the first quarter of its season opener but was held scoreless by the Maryland defense.
- Loyola's offense finally got on the board at the 10:30 mark of the second quarter. It responded with a run of its own by scoring three straight goals before Ryan Siracusa ripped a shot and scored at 5:58. Braden Erksa added a goal of his own less than a minute later to enter halftime leading 6-3. The Terps had six different goal scorers and 10 different point scorers. No player for Maryland had more than one point at the break.
- Daniel Maltz joined the fun with two goals and Colin Burlace scored his first career goal in the third quarter. Maryland held Loyola scoreless for the entire quarter and went into the fourth with a commanding 9-3 lead.
- Eric Spanos scored a goal at 11:25 and Eliot Dubick scored his first career goal to lead by seven and Maryland cruised to its season opener win.
Multi Terps Update
- Braden Erksa (one goal and one assist) had his 15th multi-point game in his two years as a Terp.
- Eric Spanos (one goal and two assists) had his sixth multi-point game of his career.
- Daniel Maltz (two goals) had the 36th multi-point game of his career. It was Maltz's 25th career game with multiple goals.
- Eric Malever (one goal and one assist) had his 18th multi-point game of his career.
Terps In The Record Books
- Luke Wierman became the program's all-time faceoff winner in the Terps' last outing. With 12 wins today, he has 667 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 groundballs. He picked up seven today and has 356 in his career. Wierman needs 26 to pass Brian Haggerty (1996-99) for second all-time.
- Logan McNaney is sixth on the all-time saves list. With 12 in the game, he now has 431 for his career. He is also 43 from passing Brian Phipps (2007-2010) and 69 saves away from becoming just the fourth Terp ever to eclipse 500 career saves.
- Daniel Maltz moved up the career goals and points list after recording two goals. He sits at No. 19 on the all-time goals list with 94.
- Ajax Zappitello tied Tim Muller (2014-17) for 15th on the all-time caused turnovers list with one on Saturday. Next on the list is Matt Neufeldt with 53 caused turnovers.
Single-Digit Defense
- Maryland is 121-11 since Tillman took over the program in 2011 when it allows nine goals or less and has won 48 games in a row
- Maryland went 5-0 in 2023 when holding opponents to less than 10 goals
- 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 153 of the 173 games in which it has scored 10 or more goals. Most recently, it defeated No. 20 Richmond with Owen Murphy's double-overtime goal. It was the Terps' 12th of the game.
- Maryland went 10-2 in 2023 when scoring 10+ with wins over Richmond, Syracuse, Princeton, Albany, Virginia, Penn State, Ohio State, twice over Rutgers, and at Johns Hopkins.
- Maryland is also 114-17 since 2015 when scoring at least 10 goals
Pole Goal!
- Colin Burlace continued the tradition of long pole goals and secured the second long pole goal of the season in the third quarter. It was also his first career goal.
- Ajax Zappitello scored the first long pole goal of the season for Maryland last week.
- In 2023, the Terps had seven pole goals and in 2022, the team had 10.
Home Cooking
- Saturday's game was the Terps' return to SECU Stadium for the first time in 2024.
- The Terps are 79-18 overall in home games under John Tillman since 2011.
Series History
- Maryland has won 23 of 26 meetings against the Greyhounds.
- The Terps are undefeated against Loyola in College Park, winning all eight games.
Numbers To Know
- 0: Ajax Zappitello held Evan James to zero points after scoring nine last week.
- 1: Ryan Siracusa notched his first career start on Saturday.
- 1: George Stamos, Colin Burlace and Eliot Dubick scored their first career goals on Saturday.
- 1: Joshua Coffman made his return to in-game action for the first time since 2021. He missed the last two seasons due to injury.
- 4: Loyola was held to four points for the first time since May 14, 2017.
- 8: Maryland is 8-0 against Loyola in College Park.
- 10: Maryland had 10 different goal scorers in the game.
- 13: Luke Wierman won 13 of 17 faceoffs.
- 14: Maryland had 14 different point scorers.
- 19:30: Maryland held Loyola scoreless for the first 19:30 of the game.
- 34:27: The Terps held Loyola scoreless for 34:27 in the second half.
- 48: Maryland has won 48 games in a row when holding foes to less than 10 goals.
- 74: The Terrapins have had a player record a hat trick in 74 of the last 75 games.
Up Next
- The Terps will be back in action on Saturday, Feb. 17 as they travel to face Syracuse on the road at 6 pm on ESPNU.
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