No. 1 Maryland men's lacrosse falls to No. 2 Syracuse, 11-9

The top-ranked Terrapins suffered their first loss of the season against the second-ranked Orange.

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The No. 1 ranked Maryland men's lacrosse team lost to the No. 2 Syracuse Orange by a score of 11-9 in a highly anticipated early-season matchup between two of the top teams in the country.

Why it matters

This loss is a significant setback for Maryland, who were expected to be one of the top contenders for the national championship this season. The defeat drops them from the top spot in the rankings and raises questions about their ability to compete with the elite teams in the sport.

The details

Maryland led 5-4 at halftime, but Syracuse rallied in the second half, outscoring the Terrapins 7-4 to secure the victory. The Orange were led by their star attackman, who scored 4 goals, while Maryland's top scorer was held to just 2 goals on the day.

  • The game was played on February 13, 2026.

The players

Maryland men's lacrosse team

The No. 1 ranked college lacrosse team in the country, known for their strong offense and championship pedigree.

Syracuse Orange

The No. 2 ranked college lacrosse team, a perennial powerhouse program that is always a threat to win the national title.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We just couldn't get it done today against a very good Syracuse team. We'll need to go back to the drawing board and figure out how to bounce back from this loss.”

— John Tillman, Head Coach, Maryland men's lacrosse (baltimoresun.com)

What’s next

Maryland will look to rebound from this loss when they take on No. 5 Duke next weekend, while Syracuse will try to build on this big win as they prepare to face off against No. 4 North Carolina.

The takeaway

This early-season matchup between two of the top teams in college lacrosse lived up to the hype, with Syracuse pulling off the upset over the previously undefeated Maryland squad. The loss will be a test of the Terrapins' resilience as they try to bounce back and regain their status as the team to beat in the sport.