ANNAPOLIS, Md., May 20, 2025 — Penn State and Maryland, two Big Ten powerhouses, secured their spots in the NCAA Division I Men’s Lacrosse Final Four with victories at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium on May 18, 2025. No. 7 Penn State staged a dramatic 14-12 comeback against reigning champions Notre Dame, while No. 2 Maryland defeated Georgetown 9-6 before a record-breaking crowd of 17,721, the highest-attended NCAA quarterfinal game in tournament history.
In the first game, Penn State (12-4) overcame a six-goal deficit to end Notre Dame’s (9-5) bid for a third consecutive national title. Matt Traynor led the Nittany Lions with a game-high six goals and one assist, totaling seven points. Ethan Long and Kyle Lehman each recorded hat tricks, with Long reaching his 100th career point. Penn State’s defense, anchored by goalkeeper Jack Fracyon’s nine saves and Alex Ross’ three ground balls and two caused turnovers, held Notre Dame scoreless in the fourth quarter. “PENN STATE GETS IT DONE,” posted the NCAA Lacrosse account on X, highlighting the Nittany Lions’ 8-0 scoring run to close the game.
The game began with Penn State taking an early 2-0 lead, but Notre Dame surged ahead, leading 8-3 at halftime and 12-6 late in the third. Traynor sparked the comeback with back-to-back goals, followed by contributions from Lehman, Long, and Liam Matthews. In the fourth, Penn State dominated, with Traynor and Lehman scoring unassisted goals and Long sealing the 14-12 victory. This win marks Penn State’s third Final Four appearance, all under coach Jeff Tambroni, and their seventh victory over Notre Dame.
In the second game, Maryland (13-3) advanced to their 30th Final Four, surpassing Johns Hopkins for the most in NCAA history. Braden Erksa led with three goals and an assist, while Daniel Kelly added two goals. Maryland’s defense, led by Defensive Player of the Year Will Schaller, limited Georgetown (12-5) to six goals, well below their recent 18-goal average. Goalkeeper Logan McNaney made 12 saves, his 14th double-digit save performance this season. “TERPS ARE HEADED TO BOSTON,” the NCAA Lacrosse account posted on X, celebrating Maryland’s defensive dominance.
Maryland led 2-0 after the first quarter, with goals from Kelly and Geordy Holmes. Georgetown briefly took a 4-3 lead in the second, but Maryland responded with goals from Erksa, Eric Spanos, and Bryce Ford to lead 5-4 at halftime. The third quarter saw only one goal, but Maryland pulled away in the fourth with two from Erksa and one from Kelly. “Proud of it,” Kelly said of reaching his fourth Final Four. “But we were here in the same spot last year, and we didn’t get the job done. This is a hungry group that’s going to Boston for a reason.”
The record crowd of 17,721 underscored the event’s significance, hosted by the U.S. Naval Academy at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, a frequent NCAA postseason venue. “Really proud of our guys,” Maryland coach John Tillman said. “The crowd was phenomenal. Navy was such a good host for this game.” Maryland’s 75-42 all-time NCAA Tournament record and 11-1 quarterfinal mark under Tillman highlight their postseason prowess.
Penn State will face No. 1 Cornell, while Maryland meets No. 6 Syracuse in the semifinals on May 24 at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. The Big Ten’s strong showing, with three teams (Ohio State, Maryland, Penn State) in the 18-team tournament, reinforces the conference’s lacrosse dominance. The winners will compete for the national championship on May 26.
Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, with over 34,000 seats, has hosted NCAA lacrosse quarterfinals seven times, including 2023, and is set to do so again in 2025. The venue’s historic ambiance, coupled with Annapolis’ naval traditions, made it a fitting stage for these high-stakes matchups.
