MLAX: No. 1 Terps open season with 15-4 win over Richmond

[TSR ScottGreene]

COLLEGE PARK – No. 1 Maryland began its 2023 season with a 15-4 victory over No. 19 Richmond on a sunny 28-degree day at SECU Stadium. Ten different Terps scored goals and 13 Terps had points.

Owen Murphy recorded four goals, tying his career-high in goals. Daniel Maltz posted five points on two goals and a career-high tying three assists.

Freshman Braden Erksa had three points on two goals and an assist in his college debut.

The Terps defense was stellar in keeping Richmond scoreless for 43:31 spanning the first through fourth quarter. That was the longest scoreless streak for Maryland’s defense since keeping Drexel scoreless for 56:17 on Feb. 28, 2015.

In goal, Logan McNaney made 12 saves for Maryland before giving way to Teddy Dolan for the final 10 minutes.

Close defensmen Brett Makar (four) and Ajax Zappitello (three) combined for seven caused turnovers as the Terps had 12 as a team. Makar had five groundballs.

Face-off man Luke Wierman won 10-of-17 face-offs, grabbing nine groundballs.

The Terps have now won 30 consecutive season openers dating back to the 1994 season.


Breaking Down The Action

• Geppert opened the scoring for the season with a pole goal coming 1:25 into the action. The Terps took a 3-0 lead in the game’s first four minutes as Murphy and Erska scored. Murphy added his second of the game with 56 seconds left for a 4-1 Terps edge after one.
• The Terps scored all four goals in the second quarter to lead 8-1 at halftime. Maltz, Erksa, Murphy and Eric Spanos tallied goals for the seven-goal margin.
• Maryland continued its scoring barrage with five more goals in the third quarter to lead 13-1 after 45 minutes. Kelly, Murphy, Kyle Long, Ryan Siracusa and Jack McDonald scored for the Terps.
• Richmond ended its scoring drought of 43:31 as Dalton Young scored two goals in a span of 2:07. Cayden Onagi added his first goal with the Terps to make it 15-3 with 8:05 left in the game.

Season Opener Success

• Maryland is now 94-3-1 all-time in season openers and has won 30 straight dating back to the 1994 season.

Home Cooking

• Maryland extended its home win streak to 19 games SECU Stadium on Saturday.
• The Terps are 74-14 overall in home games under John Tillman since 2011, and Maryland has won 16 straight non-conference matchups at home since 2018.
• Maryland will play six regular season home games in 2023.

Hat Trick Terps

• Maryland now has had a hat trick in 58 straight games dating back to February 2, 2019.
• Murphy, who had the last hat trick at home against Vermont in the NCAA Tournament, had the first of the 2023 season for Maryland.

Notes and Nuggets

• Kyle Long extended his point-scoring streak to 20 games dating back to the 2021 season.
• The Terps had two pole-goals, with Gepprt and Jack McDonald scoring them. Last season Maryland had 10 goals from long-poles, led by Geppert’s five.
• Brennan tied his career-high with two assists. He also had two against Vermont in the 2022 NCAA Tournament.
• McDonald had his career point, on his first career goal.
• Spanos had his first two college points on a goal and an assist.
• Zach Whittier also had his first point on an assist.

Up Next

• The Terps renew their in-state rivalry with Loyola (MD) Greyhounds on Saturday, Feb. 11 at 1 p.m. at the Ridley Athletic Complex in Baltimore.
• The game will be streamed live on ESPN+.