Three biggest questions for Maryland men's lacrosse heading into 2026 season

John Gugs
2 days ago
4 min read

After falling to Cornell on Memorial Day in 2025 to lose their second consecutive national championship game appearance, Maryland men's lacrosse head coach John Tillman reloaded the roster with the top transfer portal class and a top five high school recruiting class. With the Terps gearing up to get back to Memorial Day weekend for a 12th time in 15 years under Tillman, we will take a look at the three biggest questions for the Terps heading into the season and how important they will be for their success.

How will the Yale transfers fit in and play?

During the fall of 2024, coach Tillman landed commits from the attack duo of Leo Johnson and Chris Lyons for the 2026 season as grad transfers. And this past summer, close defender Michael Alexander committed to the Terps as a grad transfer as well. Johnson and Lyons have combined for 335 total points in three seasons of play. Both however missed the 2024 season due to injury, and in their first season back last year had a down year, along with the entire Yale squad. Johnson and Lyons both scored a combined 87 total points last season, both having career low seasons. With Johnson and Lyons both being attackmen, it will be interesting to see how the offense shapes up with the return of senior leaders in Eric Spanos and Braden Erksa as well as all the young talent returning. We have seen Spanos and Erksa come out of the box as midfielders in the past so could we see that again, or will one of Johnson and Lyons get pushed to the midfield. Along with the attackmen duo, Alexander was a crucial pickup for the Terps. Other than his freshman year when the 2020 season was cancelled due to covid, Alexander has started every single game he has played in for Yale. In his career in New Haven, Alexander totaled 30 caused turnovers and 56 ground balls. Along with leading Yale's defense, Alexander was a key part of the US U21 squad’s gold medal at the U21 World Lacrosse championships in 2021. Alexander has usually been the main cover guy at Yale but Will Schaller put a chokehold on that role after his All-American season last year. With Alexander also coming off a season ending injury last season, him being in a new role and getting back into action could be something to watch as the season goes on. If the Terps are going to be the top dawg yet again and win another national championship, the Yale transfers being key players and playing up to their full potential will be massive for the squad to help keep the team balanced and pressure off of guys like Schaller, Spanos, and Erksa.

How will Brian Ruppel step up

For the first time since 2020, Logan McNaney will not be on the Terps roster. After going 60-12 as a starter with a career save percentage of 55% and allowing 9.19 goals a game, McNaney has graduated and moved on to the PLL. However, due to McNaney tearing his ACL in 2023, this will not be Terps fan’s first look at the new starting goalie in Brian Ruppel. Ruppel stepped up for the Terps his freshman year leading the team to an 8-5 record making 138 saves in 13 games. While it was not great overall, Ruppel shined in many moments including a three save in seven second sequence in overtime against Virginia. With another two seasons to develop and learn under McNaney, the Terps have high hopes for Ruppel heading into the season. Will Schaller, AJ Larkin, and Eric Kolar are returning will be massive to help out the defense in front of Ruppel as well as the additions of Trey Fleece out of UMBC and Alexander out of Yale. If the Terps are to return to Memorial Day weekend, they will need Ruppel to show up and look in games the way he has in practice the last two seasons.

What returning players take the next step

Last season, we saw guys like Schaller, Larkin, Kolar, and Shea Keethler step up when given a larger role than the previous year. This year, there are several guys that can take that same leap to help lead the Terps back to Memorial Day. On offense, guys like Jack Shultz and Elijah Stobaugh entered the picture and both produced 14 point seasons in their first year of serious playing time. With Matthew Keegan and Bryce Ford gone to graduation, Shultz and Stobaugh could possibly make a push to the first midfield line. On defense, guys like George Stamos and Peter Laake could be big names to watch. Stamos was on the first short stick defensive midfield line with Kolar and they played well together. If Stamos is able to take the next step and be on the same level as Koolar, that will be massive for the Terps. Laake rotated in at times last season at close defense being the fourth close defender. With Jackson Canfield and Colin Burlace gone, Laake will look to join Schaller and Alexander on the starting lineup at close defense and show why he was a blue chip recruit out of high school. Another spot to look into will be the long stick midfielder spot. Last season, it was just Larkin and Jack McDonald taking the main reps. With McDonald gone, it will be interesting to see who steps up as the second LSM and if the Terps stick with having a two man rotation or just have Larkin take most of the defensive possessions. Sophomore Trevor Owens and freshman Oli Skeean are the only other LSM’s listed on the official roster. If the Terps are to make it back to Memorial Day weekend and get another title, they will need some returners and new faces to step up into their new roles and excel.

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