Four Terps were honored on Thursday when the Big Ten announced its awards for the 2024 lacrosse season with Ajax Zappitello leading the way.
Zappitello ends his four-year career in College Park as the reigning Big Ten defensive player of the year while also being named a first-team selection. Maryland has now produced the conference’s top defender in four straight seasons after Nick Grill won the award back in 2021 before Brett Makar repeated in 2022 and 2023.
Zappitello leads Maryland in caused turnovers (18) while also sitting third on the team in ground balls picked up (24). While he did not play on the offensive end of the field much, Zappitello also scored a goal this season. This is the second consecutive season that Zappitello has drawn first-team All-Big Ten honors, while he was previously named to the Tewaaraton Award final 25 watch list. He will look to have his name called in the first round of the PLL Draft beginning on May 7th.
After rewriting all of the record books for face-offs at Maryland, Luke Wierman was named to the second-team All-Big Ten list, the third consecutive season he’s drawn all-conference honors. Wierman is the Terps all-time record holder in face-off wins with 790 and counting, while just second on the ground balls list with just 26 to go before breaking that record. Wierman ranks 13th in the country in faceoff win percentage (59.1%) and is tenth in the nation in ground balls, leading the way into the postseason with 87 ground balls. He’s also added three assists and a goal this season as, just like Zappitello, he will look to have his name called in the PLL Draft along with Zappitello.
The final Terp to earn All-Big Ten honors was junior midfielder Eric Spanos. Spanos earned All-Big Ten honors for the first time in his career making the second team list this season. Spanos was named Big Ten offensive player of the week twice and posted three or more points in five games this season, while his 28 total points are tied for second-most on the team.
Meanwhile, Gabe Goforth earned the sportsmanship award. Goforth, a senior midfielder, appeared in two games this season and while he does not have any stats on the year, he has two goals and three caused turnovers in his career.
Maryland men’s lacrosse is on a bye week this week and won’t be back in action until the Big Ten Tournament semifinal on May 2nd at Ohio State, though the opponent has not been determined yet.
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