The Terps’ 16 goals was a season high.
Last Thursday night, Maryland trudged off the field in Columbus, Ohio, dejected after being handed its worst loss of the season to Penn State. As time expired on the victory over Princeton on Saturday night, the Terps’ jubilation made their Big Ten Tournament semifinals loss feel like a lifetime ago.
On a wet night at SECU Stadium, Maryland’s offense came alive while its defense stood pat en route to a 16-8 victory, propelling the Terps to the NCAA Tournament quarterfinals.
Maryland set the tone from the opening face off. Luke Wierman won a lightning fast clamp and found a streaking Jack Koras, who gave the Terps a 1-0 lead just eight seconds into the contest.
The Terps never looked back.
“Our senior captain Jack Koras comes down and stings one on the first possession I think that just kind of instills confidence in everyone on the team,” Eric Spanos said.
After two lifeless performances against Johns Hopkins and Penn State, Maryland’s offense came out looking much improved. It came with a change in its standard personnel, too. Eric Spanos, who has played midfield all season, joined the two Daniels — Kelly and Maltz — on the starting attack line.
“Spanos moving down it just seemed more comfortable,” Maryland head coach John Tillman said. “So it just seemed to be better, and we’ve been trying to do a lot of different things, they’re a great group.”
This switch allowed Maryland to run both Braden Erksa and Eric Malever out of the box as midfielders.
The Terps’ offense looked utterly rejuvenated on their home turf. They found the back of the net four times in the first quarter, with Kelly scoring twice in five seconds and Eric Spanos netting his first.
On the other end of the field, Princeton’s offense looked the same as it did the last time the two teams met: outmatched. It managed just one first-quarter goal, coming off an impressive effort from freshman standout Nate Kabiri.
“We have full confidence in [the defense] and if we can do our part on offense, we have confidence that they will carry their weight,” Malever said.
Maryland’s offense improved on its four-goal first quarter with seven in the second, giving them 11 first half goals. That’s more than its season average for an entire game. Spanos looked more than happy at attack as he bagged a first-half hat trick. Meanwhile, Koras refused to be outdone, matching him with three of his own.
The offense has been at its best when the ball moves fluidly, and it was certainly flying through Princeton’s defense into Maryland sticks with ease. The Terps also found advantages in one-on-one matchups. At one point, Malever made his man hit the turf with a nasty cut from X before dunking it on Princeton’s Michael Gianforcaro in net.
All the while, Wierman was dominating the face off dot, going 13-for-16 in the first half. Princeton managed just eight shots on Maryland’s net in the first 30 minutes and scored three times, including a goal three seconds before intermission.
Princeton played its best lacrosse in the third quarter. Michael Gianforcaro opened the frame with three straight saves after making just one the entire first half. On the other end, its attack beat Logan McNaney three times. The Tigers’ leading scorer, Coulter Mackesy, scored his first goal, finally getting away from Ajax Zappitello with a pick.
Maryland added just one goal in the third period, as Spanos found the net for his fourth of the night. Still, the Terps held a 12-6 lead going into the final quarter.
In the last 15 minutes, Maryland coasted comfortably, adding four more scores along the way. It ended with 16, its most all year.
Three things to know
1. The Terps forced turnovers. Maryland’s offense has struggled to protect the ball all year. Despite the improved performance, it ran into the same issue against Princeton. Luckily, its defense helped negate the effects, forcing the Tigers into 18 turnovers of their own.
2. Maryland versus Duke. The Terps’ win earned them a date with an old ACC rival, Duke, in the next round. They will play the Blue Devils in Long Island next Saturday.
“Obviously a lot of work to do for next week,” Tillman said. “Just as talented a team as there is out there.”
3. The Terps answered seeding questions. Many lacrosse fans took to social media to air their grievances with Maryland being the No. 7-seed after the way its season ended. The Terps certainly looked the part Saturday night.