Anthony DeMaio scored four first-half goals for his fifth hat trick in his last six games, Logan McNaney made 17 saves to be named the NCAA Tournament's most outstanding player and top-seeded Maryland completed a perfect season by holding off Cornell 9-7 on Monday to win the men’s lacrosse title.
NCAA_Mens_Championship_Lacrosse_64483 Maryland players celebrate after defeating Cornell in the NCAA college men's lacrosse championship game, Monday, May 30, 2022, in East Hartford, Conn. Maryland completed a perfect season by holding off Cornell 9-7. (AP Photo/Bryan Woolston)
AP Photo/Bryan Woolston
NCAA_Mens_Championship_Lacrosse_95734 Maryland face off specialist Luke Wierman lifts the championship trophy after Maryland beat Cornell 9-7 in the NCAA college men's lacrosse championship game, Monday, May 30, 2022, in East Hartford, Conn. (AP Photo/Bryan Woolston)
AP Photo/Bryan Woolston
NCAA_Mens_Championship_Lacrosse_06179 Maryland players cut the goal netting after defeating Cornell in the NCAA college men's lacrosse championship game, Monday, May 30, 2022, in East Hartford, Conn. Maryland completed a perfect season by holding off Cornell 9-7. (AP Photo/Bryan Woolston)
AP Photo/Bryan Woolston
NCAA_Mens_Championship_Lacrosse_75682 Maryland fans cheer after a goal during the first half of the NCAA college men's lacrosse championship game against Cornell, Monday, May 30, 2022, in East Hartford, Conn. (AP Photo/Bryan Woolston)
AP Photo/Bryan Woolston
NCAA_Mens_Championship_Lacrosse_02607 Maryland attack Anthony DeMaio (16) celebrates his goal against Cornell during the first half of the NCAA college men's lacrosse championship game, Monday, May 30, 2022, in East Hartford, Conn. (AP Photo/Bryan Woolston)
AP Photo/Bryan Woolston
NCAA_Mens_Championship_Lacrosse_05675 Cornell midfielder Matt Licciardi, top, collides with Maryland midfielder Bubba Fairman during the first half of the NCAA college men's lacrosse championship game, Monday, May 30, 2022, in East Hartford, Conn. (AP Photo/Bryan Woolston)
AP Photo/Bryan Woolston
NCAA_Mens_Championship_Lacrosse_91648 A Maryland player runs on the field before the NCAA college men's lacrosse championship game against Cornell, Monday, May 30, 2022, in East Hartford, Conn. (AP Photo/Bryan Woolston)
AP Photo/Bryan Woolston
NCAA_Mens_Championship_Lacrosse_94298 Maryland midfielder Jack Brennan (41) plays against Cornell midfielder Harrison Bardwell (17) during the 1st half of the NCAA college men's lacrosse championship game, Monday, May 30, 2022, in East Hartford, Conn. (AP Photo/Bryan Woolston)
AP Photo/Bryan Woolston
NCAA_Mens_Championship_Lacrosse_62661 Maryland midfielder Bubba Fairman (2), left, plays against Cornell attack CJ Kirst (15) during the first half of the NCAA college men's lacrosse championship game, Monday, May 30, 2022, in East Hartford, Conn. (AP Photo/Bryan Woolston)
AP Photo/Bryan Woolston
NCAA_Mens_Championship_Lacrosse_81834 Maryland midfielder Jack Brennan (41) plays against Cornell midfielder Kyle Smith (36) during the first half of the NCAA college men's lacrosse championship game, Monday, May 30, 2022, in East Hartford, Conn. (AP Photo/Bryan Woolston)
AP Photo/Bryan Woolston
NCAA_Mens_Championship_Lacrosse_66276 Maryland attack Eric Malever (4) plays against Cornell midfielder Harrison Bardwell (17) during the first half of the NCAA college men's lacrosse championship game, Monday, May 30, 2022, in East Hartford, Conn. (AP Photo/Bryan Woolston)
AP Photo/Bryan Woolston
NCAA_Mens_Championship_Lacrosse_35335 Cornell fans cheer before the NCAA college men's lacrosse championship game against Maryland, Monday, May 30, 2022, in East Hartford, Conn. (AP Photo/Bryan Woolston)
AP Photo/Bryan Woolston
NCAA_Mens_Championship_Lacrosse_08216 Maryland players celebrate after defeating Cornell in the NCAA college men's lacrosse championship game, Monday, May 30, 2022, in East Hartford, Conn. Maryland completed a perfect season by holding off Cornell 9-7.(AP Photo/Bryan Woolston)
AP Photo/Bryan Woolston
NCAA_Mens_Championship_Lacrosse_95381 The Cornell men's lacrosse team stands in the tunnel before the NCAA college men's lacrosse championship game against Maryland, Monday, May 30, 2022, in East Hartford, Conn. (AP Photo/Bryan Woolston)
Anthony DeMaio scored four first-half goals for his fifth hat trick in his last six games, Logan McNaney made 17 saves to be named the NCAA Tournament’s most outstanding player and top-seeded Maryland completed a perfect season by holding off Cornell 9-7 on Monday to win the men’s lacrosse title.
Maryland (18-0) set an NCAA record for most wins in a season without a loss, becoming the first undefeated team since Virginia in 2006. The Terps are 33-1 in the last two seasons, with the lone loss coming in the 2021 championship against the Cavaliers.
“All I wanted to do was see these kids not crying this year,” Maryland coach John Tillman said. “Last year to see the tears, I feel so bad for guys like Nick Grill or Jared Bernhardt and the all the seniors last year that didn’t get this chance. Our guys were focused all year long and I give them a lot of credit.”
Maryland ended the first quarter on a 4-0 run, with three straight goals from DeMaio during a span of 2:09, and the Terps led 7-2 at halftime. Maryland scored two goals in 42 seconds to open the second half for a 9-2 lead, but the Terps went scoreless for the last 27 minutes as Cornell battled back.
The Big Red scored four unanswered goals to get within 9-6 with 7:27 left in the fourth. John Piatelli, the nation’s scoring leader, scored with 35.3 seconds remaining to set a Cornell record with 66 goals, but Maryland won the faceoff before running out the clock.
It’s Maryland’s fourth title in program history.
Logan Wisnauskas had two goals and two assists to become the first Terp to record 100 points in a single season, breaking Bernhardt’s record of 99 last season.
Cornell (14-5), the No. 7 seed, was looking for its first title since 1977 — in front of an announced crowd of 22,184.
Ivy League freshman of the year CJ Kirst opened the scoring midway through the first quarter and he also scored early in the second for his 55th of the season.
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