BTN.com staff, April 30, 2016

No. 3 Maryland used a complete team effort to defeat No. 8 Johns Hopkins, 11-8, and claim the 2016 Big Ten Men's Lacrosse outright title in the game?s greatest rivalry Saturday afternoon at Homewood Field.

[ MORE: View the official Big Ten men's tourney bracket (PDF) ]

"To be Big Ten regular-season champions for the first time - just sole champions - I think is something special that these guys can always remember," said head coach John Tillman. "I don't think it will really sink in now, but I think down the road, it will be really important to them."

Maryland (12-2, 5-0 Big Ten) is the first outright winner in the Big Ten Conference?s short history, as it stretched its winning streak to 11 consecutive games in the process.

The Terps, who also took home ?The Rivalry Trophy? with the win, will be the top seed in next weekend?s Big Ten Conference Tournament (also at Homewood Field) and will face No. 4 seed Penn State at 5:30 p.m. ET Thursday. Johns Hopkins will play against Rutgers in the second semifinal.

 

***

Fighting back from a second-half deficit, No. 1 Maryland (17-0, 5-0 Big Ten) ran past No 13 Penn State (11-5, 3-2), 10-9, Thursday evening. With the win, the Terps captured the Big Ten regular season championship outright.

[ MORE: View the official Big Ten women's lacrosse tourney bracket (PDF) ]

?Penn State came out and battled for the whole game,? head coach Cathy Reese said. ?I think we played sloppy at times, but this group has been great at fighting and not giving up all season. Our seniors did a great job leading us at the end. We have a lot to be excited for with the end of the regular season, but now we?re looking ahead.?

Freshman attacker Caroline Steele led the Terps offensively with three goals while senior midfielder Taylor Cummings and sophomore attacker Taylor Hensh notched two goals and one assist. Cummings also posted nine draw controls, four ground balls and two caused turnovers.

The top-seeded Terps will face the No. 4 Rutgers-No. 5 Ohio State winner in the Big Ten semifinals at 6:30 p.m. ET Friday May 6.