Maryland Preview (2/13/26, 6 PM)

[Zack80]

Maryland's line-up against Loyola:
Attack: Spanos, Erksa, Leo Johnson
1st midfield: Lyons, Whittier, Stobaugh
2nd midfield: 3 from Aitken, Ford, Higgins, Johnny Gardiner
LSM: Larkin, Owens
SSDM: Kolar, Stamos, Gravino, Fleece - also James Gardiner
Close D: Will Schaller, Alexander, Laake
Goalie: Ruppel
Face-offs: Dodge, Carrier

 

[Shrmdougluvr]

Maryland's line-up against Loyola:
Attack: Spanos, Erksa, Leo Johnson
1st midfield: Lyons, Whittier, Stobaugh
2nd midfield: 3 from Aitken, Ford, Higgins, Johnny Gardiner
LSM: Larkin, Owens
SSDM: Kolar, Stamos, Gravino, Fleece - also James Gardiner
Close D: Will Schaller, Alexander, Laake
Goalie: Ruppel
Face-offs: Dodge, Carrier

Does Syracuse use a more mobile close defender in place of Beck? Both Erksa and Johnson are more of the speedster/jitterbug types.

 

[JeremyCuse]

Does Syracuse use a more mobile close defender in place of Beck? Both Erksa and Johnson are more of the speedster/jitterbug types.

My assumption is Beck will draw Erksa. Spano and Johnson are definitely getting some combo of Fig and Dwan.

Lyons will draw the pole.

 

[Shrmdougluvr]

My assumption is Beck will draw Erksa. Spano and Johnson are definitely getting some combo of Fig and Dwan.

Lyons will draw the pole.

Nothing against Beck. Just seems like a bad match up for him (or Dwan). I suppose against really top flight offenses you just need to pick your poison.

 

[DoctahLexus]

I think we could possibly see Chuck K or another LSM guard Erksa in settled 6v6. We have not shied away from having guys on close D cover middies, like Dwan covering Collison last year, for example. We could see something like Beck on Lyons, since he is more of a physical matchup than a speedy one.

 

[JeremyCuse]

I think we could possibly see Chuck K or another LSM guard Erksa in settled 6v6. We have not shied away from having guys on close D cover middies, like Dwan covering Collison last year, for example. We could see something like Beck on Lyons, since he is more of a physical matchup than a speedy one.

That could certainly happen, SU has done some mix and matching like that in the past as you noted. This is where Cam Ryan going down may first rear it's head. That said Beck has played fairly well in the first two games, big game for him regardless of its Erksa or Lyons.

 

[cuselaxss26]

i think worries me more is how we do in the pick game. Least vs BU we did not talk well or play picks very good. Wasn’t bad vs st joes but their two diff teams n st joes could have a down year with new coach n all. But they gotta talk n switch timely n well. Has to be good communication. Can’t give any maryland hands free or ounce of space. As said think we have to be on their hands not let them catch n pass without stick in their face or being right there. Grant playing that way can be tiresome for both. Would just depend who’s better conditioned team i guess.

Offense has to start off hott. They gotta get good looks n BURY them all. Would love to jump out to nice little lead n force maryland to pick up pace , which they don’t like to do. But easier said than done. Can’t let ruppel get in groove or even D comfy.

Defense lay the hammer down but smartly n legally. Constant checking on hands n take body. Lay legal hits when slide n slide hard if gonna go don’t hesitate. Time to put the terps down off their high horse when comes to us. Let’s go orange !

 

[JeremyCuse]

i think worries me more is how we do in the pick game. Least vs BU we did not talk well or play picks very good. Wasn’t bad vs st joes but their two diff teams n st joes could have a down year with new coach n all. But they gotta talk n switch timely n well. Has to be good communication. Can’t give any maryland hands free or ounce of space. As said think we have to be on their hands not let them catch n pass without stick in their face or being right there. Grant playing that way can be tiresome for both. Would just depend who’s better conditioned team i guess.

Offense has to start off hott. They gotta get good looks n BURY them all. Would love to jump out to nice little lead n force maryland to pick up pace , which they don’t like to do. But easier said than done. Can’t let ruppel get in groove or even D comfy.

Defense lay the hammer down but smartly n legally. Constant checking on hands n take body. Lay legal hits when slide n slide hard if gonna go don’t hesitate. Time to put the terps down off their high horse when comes to us. Let’s go orange !

Maryland was playing a much faster pace then Normal vs Loyola. Could be because of the lopsided faceoff advantage or the addition of the 2 Yale guys that really expands Marylands depth especially at Mid.

Tillman usually goes conservative in big games but will push transition. I suspect we will see a ton of picks and big little game. Lot of experience on that defense, should hopefully limit the mistakes.

 

[Zack80]

Inside Lacrosse is reporting that Jack Schultz might be back playing this Friday, which further mixes up the midfield picture for the Terps. Schultz was on the 2nd midfield for the Terps last spring.

One might note that the Terps ;projected attack for next season: Ford, Johnny Gardiner, and Higgins are running with the 2nd midfield - and opposing coaches for the most part will be trying to cover them with ssdms this year. Ford did seem to go out with the 1st midfield a bit too.

 

[Zack80]

I don't know that I would really expect Johnny Gardiner and Higgins to sit because Jack Schultz returns.
1st off, I don't really know what Schultz's injury is. He has probably missed some practices too. He might not really be ready to assume full-time duties.
2nd off, Tillman appears to be committed to bringing Johnny Gardiner and Higgins along. They also present different match-ups for opponents with Gardiner being a lefty and Higgins being pretty swift.

I tend to expect Higgins and Johnny Gardiner will get less runs if Schultz is back, but the same might be true for Ford, Aitken, and perhaps even Whittier or Stobaugh.

Another possibility would be for Maryland to run a 3rd midfield line with Higgins, Johnny Gardiner and Draley/L.Ward.

Anyways, we will see on Friday evening