Stingy defense has been the hallmark of John Tillman teams during his tenure in College Park. But during nonconference play, that wasn’t the case for No. 8 Maryland men’s lacrosse — it allowed 10.8 goals per game across its six contests.
That’s all changed with Riley Reese in the starting lineup. The Terps held then-No. 9 Penn State to its second-lowest scoring total this season and paired it with just eight goals conceded against Michigan.
Maryland saved its best defensive performance for Senior Day,
though. In what was essentially a must-win game, the Terps held then-No. 9 Ohio State to a season-low seven goals. The Buckeyes netted just two second-half scores.
Still, Maryland needed overtime to land the final blow. Reese’s game-winning goal just over two minutes into the extra period sealed the Terps’ 8-7 victory for their first ranked win of the season. Leo Johnson’s five-point performance led the way during Maryland’s first-quarter barrage.
But it doesn’t get much easier for the Terps. No. 19 Rutgers comes to SECU Stadium for Maryland’s final regular season home game. The contest begins at 6 p.m. and will stream on Big Ten Network.
No. 19 Rutgers Scarlet Knights (8-4, 1-2 Big Ten)
2025 Record: 7-9, 2-3 Big Ten
Head coach Brian Brecht has guided Rutgers to unprecedented heights during his 15-year tenure in Piscataway. The two-time Big Ten Coach of the Year led the Scarlet Knights to consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, highlighted by the program’s first run to the Final Four in 2022.
Outside of that two-year stretch, Rutgers has hovered around the middle of the pack in the Big Ten. The Scarlet Knights have finished with six losing seasons, including a pair of seven-win years heading into the 2026 campaign.
While Rutgers is on track for its best record since the deep postseason run, it has struggled to keep pace with ranked foes. The Scarlet Knights are 1-3 against top-20 opponents — the lone win coming in double-overtime fashion against then-No. 11 Johns Hopkins. A comfortable loss to Michigan on Saturday didn’t help either.
Players to watch
Colin Kurdyla, junior attacker, No. 88 — Inside Lacrosse’s No. 45-ranked class of 2023 recruit quickly became the face of Rutgers’ offense. After a 30-point freshman campaign, Kurdyla burst onto the national scene. He has posted at least 20 goals in each of his first three seasons, leading to an All-American honorable mention in 2025.
But Kurdyla’s attacking impact has only furthered this season. He has distributed the 17th-most assists per game (2.1) nationally while also bagging a team-high 28 goals. However, Kurdyla has been held to just two combined scores in the Scarlet Knights’ Big Ten losses.
Cardin Stoller, redshirt junior goalkeeper, No. 92 — Stoller has started every game between the pipes since his arrival on campus, and he has been exceptional. The Maryland native has conceded just 9.8 goals per game across his 42 starts. His 54.4% save percentage this season is the 18th-highest mark in the country.
Greyson Vorgang, redshirt sophomore attacker, No. 77 — While Kurdyla is the engine behind Rutgers’ attack, Vorgang is a ruthless second option. He has broken out with 21 scores this season following a four-goal freshman campaign. Vorgang has done so with only 31 shots on goal, showcasing his efficiency.
Strength
Team defense. Even without a clear top defenseman, Rutgers has thrived this season slowing down some potent offenses. The Scarlet Knights have conceded just 9.3 goals per game, largely thanks to Stoller’s elite goaltending. Rutgers has also forced 111 turnovers to limit the traffic in front of its goal.
Weakness
Lack of attacking creators. The Scarlet Knights’ offense has been one-dimensional this season. Outside of Kurdyla’s playmaking ability, Rutgers doesn’t have another player with double-digit assists. That has allowed some teams to slow down the Scarlet Knights — they only average 11.6 goals per game.
Three things to watch
1. Low-scoring affair. While Rutgers and Maryland haven’t shown the offensive capability to score at will, they’ve relied on strong defensive play to grind out results. The Terps have a pair of overtime victories against quality opposition. Rutgers has played in three overtime games, including two during conference play. In a matchup between two of the Big Ten’s worst offenses, Saturday’s game will likely be low scoring.
2. Postseason implications. With both teams sitting at four losses and a top-10 team still on the horizon, Saturday’s game has massive stakes. The loser will likely have an uphill battle to build a postseason-worthy resume, outside of simply winning the Big Ten Tournament. The margin for error is slim going forward.
3. What version of Eric Spanos shows up? Since his return from injury, Spanos has had an up-and-down three-game stretch. He has posted two scoreless performances and a career-high eight goals against Michigan. Without another reliable scorer alongside Leo Johnson, Spanos will need a strong outing on Saturday.
