The stakes heading into No. 7 Maryland men’s lacrosse’s final game of the regular season could not be higher.
The Terps have already secured at least a share of the Big Ten title after a convincing 12-2 victory over No. 19 Rutgers on Saturday. But with four two-loss conference teams, Maryland’s margin for error is slim.
A victory in this year’s edition of ‘The Rivalry’ against No. 13 Johns Hopkins would leave the Terps as the Big Ten’s top finisher and one of two teams to earn a conference tournament
first-round bye. However, Maryland’s outlook would change with a loss — it could potentially drop to third place depending on the result of No. 16 Penn State vs. Rutgers.
But the Terps control their own destiny, and John Tillman has his team playing its best lacrosse at the right time once again. Maryland’s three-game winning streak features a pair of ranked victories. The defense has conceded just 5.7 goals per game during that stretch, which included holding Rutgers to the program’s fewest goals allowed in 11 years.
The Terps’ balanced attack has also shined; nine players scored in their win last week. While Eric Spanos and Leo Johnson are Maryland’s top weapons, the duo has opted to facilitate the offense over the last two games — they’ve assisted 10 of the team’s 20 goals.
Johns Hopkins will host the Terps on Saturday at 2 p.m., with the game airing on ESPNU.
No. 13 Johns Hopkins Blue Jays (7-4, 2-2 Big Ten)
2025 Record: 6-8, 0-5 Big Ten
Head coach Peter Milliman has bounced around college lacrosse, but he’s brought success to every stop. That’s been no different during his six-year tenure with the Blue Jays. Milliman has led Johns Hopkins to consecutive NCAA Tournament quarterfinal runs in 2023 and 2024.
After laying the foundation for a potential national title, the Blue Jays took a significant step back last season. Johns Hopkins finished with its second-lowest win total since 1990 and posted a winless conference slate for the first time in program history. The Blue Jays lost six of their final seven games to cap off a disappointing year.
But Johns Hopkins has rebounded well. The Blue Jays’ resume includes wins over No. 17 Towson, No. 18 Loyola Maryland, No. 8 Virginia and No. 16 Penn State. Their four losses have come against ranked foes, with a pair of one-goal conference defeats at the forefront. Still, Johns Hopkins’ postseason aspirations hang in the balance.
Players to watch
Hunter Chauvette, junior attacker, No. 91 — The Blue Jays’ offense runs through Chauvette’s stick. Inside Lacrosse’s No. 22-ranked class of 2024 prospect has excelled in his time at Johns Hopkins. Chauvette followed up a standout freshman campaign with a 23-goal, eight-assist season in 2025. He was just scratching the surface of his potential, though.
Chauvette has cemented himself among the Big Ten’s most prolific scorers this season. His 30 goals rank second in the conference and tied for 27th-most nationally. The formula to beat Hopkins is clear — Chauvette has scored five combined goals across four losses.
Matt Collison, senior midfielder, No. 16 — Collison’s 6-foot-4 frame makes him a matchup nightmare for opposing defenders. The No. 13 pick in the 2026 Premier Lacrosse League Draft has bagged at least 20 goals in every season. Collison is also third on the team with 11 assists, making him a versatile midfield weapon.
Oran Gelinas, senior goalkeeper, No. 87 — After transferring in from Ohio State, Gelinas’ path to the starting role was bumpy. But once he got his shot between the pipes, the 6-foot-4, 225-pound netminder proved to be irreplaceable. Gelinas has taken his game to the next level this season, racking up the fourth-highest save percentage (58.4%) in the country.
Strength
Producing comebacks. While Johns Hopkins isn’t an elite team in any metric, they’ve proven that no lead is safe. The Blue Jays have clawed out of seven and five-goal second-half deficits to storm back and beat Virginia and then-No. 6 Penn State, respectively. When Johns Hopkins gets on a roll, it is a tough team to stop.
Weakness
Faceoff depth. Following the departure of last season’s top faceoff specialist, the Blue Jays haven’t found much success at the X. Joe Hobot’s 54.2% faceoff win percentage isn’t bad by any means, but there is a steep drop-off after him. Without a clear second option at X, Johns Hopkins ranks 52nd nationally with a 47.8% faceoff win rate.
Three things to watch
1. Strong start. Maryland isn’t a team that likes to play from behind, and that’s been proven this season. The Terps are 5-1 when leading after the first quarter — the lone loss coming to No. 1 Notre Dame. But in the two games it trailed after 15 minutes, Maryland failed to come back.
2. Can Maryland control the X? The Terps’ biggest advantage heading into Saturday’s contest is their faceoff unit. Between Henry Dodge and Jonah Carrier, Maryland boasts the fourth-best faceoff win percentage (61.2%) in the country. If the Terps can go on a run through their faceoff domination, it’ll be a long road back for Johns Hopkins.
3. Two stout defenses. Maryland’s defense has been easily one of the hottest in the country, fueling its late-season surge. The Terps have held three consecutive Big Ten opponents to single-digit goals, leading to their top-15 scoring defense mark. But Johns Hopkins isn’t far off, conceding only 9.6 goals per game.
