In last season’s final four, No. 1 Maryland men’s lacrosse ended No. 2 Syracuse’s season. 

Throughout recent history, Terps have dominated the Orange. It had been 17 years since Syracuse last beat the Terps and eight straight matchups, dating back to 2009. 

Coming in, it seemed like the Terps would continue that streak. But that didn’t happen on Friday.  The Terps were dominated by Syracuse for the majority of the night, rallying to an 11-9 win. 

Late in the game, the Terps needed to get out of the defensive zone. With just over three minutes remaining, down by two, Maryland’s defense needed a clear to get a chance to tie this game. 

The clearance was unsuccessful and head coach John Tillman’s undefeated record against the Orange was snapped.

On Friday, Joey Spallina had his way with the defense and His 4 goals led Syracuse. Whenever the Orange needed an offensive spark, Spallina was the main option. He attempted nine shots and had five ground balls in the win. 

Maryland came in as the top team in the nation, but throughout the game, it didn’t look like it. The Terps scored first, but the momentum quickly shifted, emphasized by a first-half five-goal run was key. 

That run was due to Syracuse’s faceoff domination as it took possession and converted. Early on, the Orange had a clear advantage. The Terps were a step behind and the Orange took advantage with contributions from Spallina and Wyatt Hottle. 

It continued, the Orange exposed many of Maryland’s weaknesses, especially in the faceoff circle.

Henry Dodge transferred to Maryland this season as the best faceoff taker in the nation — his 71% win rate is top in Division I. In the first half on Friday, John Mullen got the best of him, but the Terps recovered to be 50% on the night. That said, Mullen was incredibly solid against the Terps, with seven ground balls. 

After Syracuse’s run, the Terps needed some semblance of an answer. That was where Stobaugh delivered for back-to-back goals. But it wasn’t nearly enough as Spallina still answered. 

Stobaugh was Maryland’s top contributor, putting up a hat trick. He had a breakout performance, but the rest of the team couldn’t help the team tie it up. 

Maryland goalie Brian Ruppel was good on Friday, but not great. He faced a ton of shots and couldn’t save the game, like former goalie Logan McNaney could. 

Ruppel had experience playing in 2023 in relief of an injured McNaney, but on Friday, he couldn’t live up to the standard of Maryland’s current Director of Player Development. The netminder made 10 saves on Friday. 

After Syracuse’s run, the Terps needed some semblance of an answer. That was where Elijah Stobaugh delivered for back-to-back goals. But it wasn’t nearly enough as Spallina still answered. 

The first-half deficit was three and the Terps were clearly the inferior team on the road. Something needed to change. 

For Maryland, a bad first half was emphasized later on as captain Eric Spanos hobbled off the field with pain in his left leg. 

Spanos returned later on and helped build the comeback as the Terps needed an extra step in the second half. They never got it. 

The Terps got as close as one, but never tied the game. A disappointing effort throughout, as it was clear that Maryland’s new core of a plethora of transfers couldn’t step up to Syracuse’s team of returners. 

For a team that came in with as high expectations as the Terps did, Friday was yet again a failure to win the big game against the other top team. 

Back-to-back national championship losses and now a loss to No. 2 as the top team make the road back to glory significantly more difficult.