Sunday, May 11
College Park, MD
12:30 pm MT
Air Force Academy
9-8
5
at
13
(2) Maryland
12-3
1
2
3
4
F
Air Force
1
1
0
3
5
Maryland
3
4
5
1
13
Air Force Concludes NCAA Tournament at No. 2 Maryland
5/11/2025 4:02:00 PM | Men's Lacrosse
COLLEGE PARK, Md. – Air Force fell to No. 2 Maryland, 13-5, in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament, Sunday afternoon, at SECU Stadium. The Falcons finalize the 2025 campaign at 9-8, redeeming a 2-7 start to the season. The Terrapins, who have made 22 consecutive NCAA Tournament Final Four appearances, improved to 12-3 and will take on Georgetown in the quarterfinals hosted at the U.S. Naval Academy.
SIGNIFICANT STATS
-Caelan Driggs led the Falcons in goal scoring for the eighth straight game, finalizing his junior year with a program record 60 single-season goals. His 97 career goals are tied for fourth most heading into his senior season. Mike Crampton (2011-14) is the current record holder with 127.
-Senior team captain Josh Yago put up a goal and an assist, raising his career total points count to 156, the fifth-most all time at USAFA. His 35 single-season assists are a new program standard while his 77 career assists is third most.
-Jake Marek brings his Air Force career to a close with 234 career saves for eighth most and nine single-season wins for third most.
-Cole Cunningham scooped up a pair of ground balls, he closes the season with 85 ground balls for the seventh most in a season.
-Jake Knapp won four faceoffs in seven attempts while picking up a team-high three ground balls.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First quarter
Maryland was first to strike in the opening minute as Daniel Kelly scored via help from Matthew Keegan 56 seconds into the game. At the 12:58 mark, All-B1G attack Eric Spanos finished upper deck with help from Zach Whittier. The Falcons got on the board about eight minutes later as freshman midfielder Alex Rismani fed Ryan Stadelmaier at X where the junior finished high with 4:28 remaining in the quarter. With 19 seconds left in the quarter, Spanos bullied his way to a one-on-one from behind the cage where he finished for his second goal. Maryland held a 3-1 lead heading into the second quarter.
Second quarter
Following an eight-minute scoring drought from both teams, the Falcons were first to score in the second quarter as the team's leading assist maker Josh Yago connected with AF's top goal scorer Caelan Driggs at the 6:37 mark. A miscue on the offense gave the Terps a fast break opportunity where Spanos capitalized for his third goal (5:11) in a fast-break transition. One possession off the faceoff, Bryce Ford fed Braden Erksa with the one-two for a goal at 4:04 to give the Terps a 6-2 lead. Wit the momentum in their favor U of M poured it on as Kelly scored his second goal with help from Elijah Stobaugh 60 seconds later. The Falcons entered the locker room at halftime trailing, 7-2.
Third quarter
Spanos got back to work out of the break, scoring his fourth goal at 13:48 via Whittier's assistance for the second time. Just over a minute later, Spanos tallied his fifth goal in an unassisted attack to lift Maryland to a 9-2 lead. At the 10:37 mark, Spanos took another shot, however this attempt bounced off the pipe right into the hands of Noah Armitage who scored a goal from point plank. Just over eight minutes later Erksa connected with Keegan to put the Terps up 11-2. With 17 seconds remaining in the quarter Spanos tacked on his sixth goal with an assist from Erksa. AF entered the fourth quarter trailing, 12-2.
Fourth quarter
Josh Yago killed a 23-minute scoring drought in an unassisted attack at 13:27. Moments later at the 9:33 mark, Whittier plugged in a goal in an unassisted attack. It was the last goal U of M would score on the game. Caelan Driggs scored his second goal at the 7:47 mark and senior teammate Alexander Stepney notched the final goal of the game at 1:26.
Next up, the Falcons will formally bring the 2025 campaign to a close at the post season awards banquet this Spring.
SIGNIFICANT STATS
-Caelan Driggs led the Falcons in goal scoring for the eighth straight game, finalizing his junior year with a program record 60 single-season goals. His 97 career goals are tied for fourth most heading into his senior season. Mike Crampton (2011-14) is the current record holder with 127.
-Senior team captain Josh Yago put up a goal and an assist, raising his career total points count to 156, the fifth-most all time at USAFA. His 35 single-season assists are a new program standard while his 77 career assists is third most.
-Jake Marek brings his Air Force career to a close with 234 career saves for eighth most and nine single-season wins for third most.
-Cole Cunningham scooped up a pair of ground balls, he closes the season with 85 ground balls for the seventh most in a season.
-Jake Knapp won four faceoffs in seven attempts while picking up a team-high three ground balls.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First quarter
Maryland was first to strike in the opening minute as Daniel Kelly scored via help from Matthew Keegan 56 seconds into the game. At the 12:58 mark, All-B1G attack Eric Spanos finished upper deck with help from Zach Whittier. The Falcons got on the board about eight minutes later as freshman midfielder Alex Rismani fed Ryan Stadelmaier at X where the junior finished high with 4:28 remaining in the quarter. With 19 seconds left in the quarter, Spanos bullied his way to a one-on-one from behind the cage where he finished for his second goal. Maryland held a 3-1 lead heading into the second quarter.
Second quarter
Following an eight-minute scoring drought from both teams, the Falcons were first to score in the second quarter as the team's leading assist maker Josh Yago connected with AF's top goal scorer Caelan Driggs at the 6:37 mark. A miscue on the offense gave the Terps a fast break opportunity where Spanos capitalized for his third goal (5:11) in a fast-break transition. One possession off the faceoff, Bryce Ford fed Braden Erksa with the one-two for a goal at 4:04 to give the Terps a 6-2 lead. Wit the momentum in their favor U of M poured it on as Kelly scored his second goal with help from Elijah Stobaugh 60 seconds later. The Falcons entered the locker room at halftime trailing, 7-2.
Third quarter
Spanos got back to work out of the break, scoring his fourth goal at 13:48 via Whittier's assistance for the second time. Just over a minute later, Spanos tallied his fifth goal in an unassisted attack to lift Maryland to a 9-2 lead. At the 10:37 mark, Spanos took another shot, however this attempt bounced off the pipe right into the hands of Noah Armitage who scored a goal from point plank. Just over eight minutes later Erksa connected with Keegan to put the Terps up 11-2. With 17 seconds remaining in the quarter Spanos tacked on his sixth goal with an assist from Erksa. AF entered the fourth quarter trailing, 12-2.
Fourth quarter
Josh Yago killed a 23-minute scoring drought in an unassisted attack at 13:27. Moments later at the 9:33 mark, Whittier plugged in a goal in an unassisted attack. It was the last goal U of M would score on the game. Caelan Driggs scored his second goal at the 7:47 mark and senior teammate Alexander Stepney notched the final goal of the game at 1:26.
Next up, the Falcons will formally bring the 2025 campaign to a close at the post season awards banquet this Spring.
Team Stats
AFA
UMD
Shots
30
39
Turnovers
14
14
Caused Turnovers
4
7
Faceoffs Won
8
14
Extra-Man Opps
1
1
Ground Balls
22
26
Game Leaders
Players
G
2
A
0
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
0
CT
0
G
1
A
0
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
0
CT
0
G
1
A
0
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
0
CT
0
Players Mentioned
D
/ Men's Lacrosse
A
/ Men's Lacrosse
FO/M
/ Men's Lacrosse
GK
/ Men's Lacrosse
M
/ Men's Lacrosse
A
/ Men's Lacrosse
M
/ Men's Lacrosse
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