Men’s Lacrosse Team Defeats Rutgers to Net Big Ten Regular-Season Title

The Maryland men’s lacrosse team, ranked No. 9 in the nation, clinched its seventh Big Ten title in program history with a 12-2 win over No. 19 Rutgers at SECU Stadium on Saturday night. 

The Terps captured Maryland Athletics' 51st Big Ten Championship since joining the conference in 2015 and now hold a 6-4 (3-1 Big Ten) record in 2026.

As the only team remaining in the Big Ten with only one conference loss, the Terps sealed at least a share of the Big Ten Championship. It is their 11th title in program history, including four Big Ten Tournament titles. Maryland will play for the outright title and No. 1 seed in the Big Ten Tournament at 2 p.m. Saturday at Johns Hopkins University. 

By holding Rutgers to two goals this weekend, Maryland set a program record for fewest goals allowed in a Big Ten game.

Brian Ruppel made eight saves, Eric Spanos tallied five points (three goals and two assists) and Braden Erksa collected four points (two goals and two assists). Maryland went on a 9-0 run and the defense held Rutgers scoreless for 35:45 straight minutes en route to the dominant win.

Rutgers opened the scoring on Saturday before Maryland rattled off eight straight goals to close out the first half. Spanos netted a pair of goals while Spencer Ford, Leo Johnson, AJ Larkin, Chris Lyons, Aidan Aitken, and Erksa all scored during the run.

By the time Rutgers (8-5, 1-3 Big Ten) scored again, Maryland had racked up nine goals across three quarters of action. Saturday's contest was never in question as the Terps won their third straight game and improved to 37-2 all-time against Rutgers. 

Henry Dodge went eight of 10 on face-offs while Riley Reese had a career-high five caused turnovers and grabbed two ground balls as the Terps held Rutgers' top scorer, Colin Kurdyla, to one assist.