6-seed Syracuse men’s lacrosse ends its season with loss to 2-seed Maryland in the NCAA Tournament Semifinals

6-seed Syracuse men’s lacrosse (13-6, 2-2 Atlantic Coast Conference) made it to Championship Weekend for the first time since 2013, but its time on the biggest stage in college lacrosse was cut short by 2-seed Maryland (14-3, 3-2 Big Ten) in the semifinal round in a 14-8 loss.

It’s almost a poetic ending for the Orange, whose first defeat of the season came at the hands of the Terrapins in an 11-7 loss back in mid-February. SU looked thoroughly outclassed in that contest, unable to keep pace with UMD’s physicality and find ways to get by 'Terps goalie Logan McNaney.

Over three months later, the ’Cuse’s final loss of the season comes to Maryland in a very similar fashion.

SU struck first in Foxborough—Owen Hiltz found twine less than a minute after the opening faceoff. It was the only lead the Orange would hold all game.

Eric Spanos had the response for UMD midway through the opening frame and led the attack all day, finishing with a game-high four goals and five points.

Maryland took a 2-1 lead off an Elijah Stobaugh goal late in the first quarter and had Syracuse firmly in the rearview mirror for the remainder of the contest.

The Terrapins scored eight unanswered, tying their largest streak of the season. The Orange, much like they did in the regular season matchup, looked entirely outmatched.

“We played the first half like it was the first time we’ve been here in 12 years,” said Syracuse head coach Gary Gait. “But I give my guys a ton of credit…they played their hardest all game.”

After nearly 28 minutes without a score, Syracuse started to show some life. Finn Thomson found the net in the waning minutes of the first half to make it 8-2. A three-goal run in the third quarter made it 10-5 in favor of the Terps.

But it was far too little, far too late. The Maryland lead was never fewer than five goals in the second half.

“I think we gave it our all and we gave it our best, it just wasn’t enough,” said SU midfielder Sam English, whose three points were a Syracuse team-high.

“What they did to us, we wanted to do to them,” added Gait.

Logan McNaney put on a clinic between the pipes for UMD, saving 14 of the 21 shots he faced.

SU netminder Jimmy McCool mustered 12 saves of his own, including six in the first quarter, but allowed 14 goals in the process.

One of the few bright spots for an Orange offensive unit that struggled all game was midfielder Michael Leo, who led SU with two goals on a game-high 11 shots.

Ian Rempe/TheNewsHouse.com

Maryland head coach John Tillman improves his record against Syracuse to 8-0 in his time with the Terrapins, while Gary Gait drops to 0-5 against Tillman’s group since taking the helm in the 315.

SU’s season ends on Memorial Day Weekend for the first time in 12 years, but in a familiar yet disappointing way: A loss to Maryland group that looked far superior in nearly every facet of the game.