Top-ranked Maryland opens season with 19-10 win over Loyola

No. 1 Maryland opened its season with a 19-10 victory over in-state Loyola (Md.) at Jones-Hill House, breaking the game open with an eight-goal third quarter that put the result beyond reach. The Terps scored 13 of their 19 goals in the second half and used a deep, balanced roster to coast to a season-opening win indoors because of freezing temperatures.

Yale transfer Leo Johnson led the charge with five goals and one assist, including three strikes in the third quarter. Coach John Tillman praised Johnson’s impact, saying, “Nice to have a guy who’s a great person as well as a great player.” Fellow Yale transfer Chris Lyons added four goals; the pair combined for nine of Maryland’s 19 goals. Eric Spanos, the returning offensive centerpiece, chipped in two goals as part of a trio that accounted for 11 scores.

Maryland began slowly, tied 2-2 after the first quarter, before Johnson and Lyons “rattled off four straight Maryland goals to fuel it to a two-goal halftime lead.” The third quarter flipped the game: Maryland outscored Loyola 8-1, with Spanos getting the scoring started in the period and Johnson sealing the burst with multiple goals. Elijah Stobaugh finished with two goals, one set up by Johnson’s assist, and Braden Erksa set up teammates four times, including three assists in the second quarter.

The Terps showed depth beyond the headline scorers. Twenty-nine players saw the field and nine different Terps recorded goals. Henry Dodge handled faceoffs and “lost just four of his 16 faceoff bouts,” stabilizing possession in a game where Maryland leaned on its roster rotation. Defensive transfer Mikey Alexander was described as “lockdown in Maryland’s defensive trio,” helping keep Loyola from mounting a comeback after the third-quarter surge.

For College Park and Prince George’s County, the performance reinforces expectations tied to Maryland’s offseason spending in the transfer portal. The new additions produced immediate returns, and the distribution of scoring suggests coach Tillman will have options to manage minutes and matchups as the schedule intensifies. The win also extends Maryland’s long run of season-opening success; the program has not lost an opener since 2000.

The Terps leave Jones-Hill House with a clear early-season statement: a high-powered offense buoyed by transfers and a deep supporting cast. For local fans, that means a competitive College Park team to follow through the spring and a roster worth watching as Maryland pursues conference and national goals.