[Baltimore Sun] Maryland men’s lacrosse faceoff specialist Luke Wierman ‘a problem for opponents’ entering Final Four
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Luke Wierman is a national champion and perhaps the greatest faceoff specialist in Maryland men’s lacrosse history. But the chance that got away continues to trouble him.
In the 2021 NCAA Tournament final, Wierman won a faceoff, picked up the loose ball and raced into the offensive zone before firing a shot into the chest of Timonium native and St. Paul’s graduate Alex Rode in the final seconds of Virginia’s 17-16 victory over the Terps. That ending spoiled Maryland’s quest for its fourth national championship and second unblemished season and follows Wierman even after he helped the 2022 squad accomplish those feats.
“I wouldn’t say it puts it to rest,” he said of balancing the memories associated with capturing the 2022 crown and surrendering the 2021 title. “It’s always there just because as we say all the time, we maximize our time together because that 2021 team, that was the last time with some of those guys in that locker room. So I remember guys like [attackman] Jared Bernhardt and [defenseman] Nick Grill that I didn’t get to go play 2022 with. So you definitely remember that season.”
Senior midfielder Jack Koras joined Wierman in sharing the disappointment of that memory.
“I was on that team as a freshman, and we all remember that,” the Lutherville native and Loyola Blakefield graduate said. “It’s definitely a scar that we carry with us. That feeling of losing that game was not fun, and it’s definitely a motivational factor.”
Wierman and No. 7 seed Maryland (10-5) have an opportunity to redeem themselves when they meet No. 6 seed Virginia (12-5) in an NCAA Tournament semifinal on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. That game will follow the first semifinal between No. 1 seed and reigning national champion Notre Dame (14-1) and No. 5 seed Denver (13-3) at noon.
Wierman’s value can’t be overstated. The graduate student demonstrated his versatility when he won 20 of 29 faceoffs, scooped up eight ground balls and scored two goals in the Terps’ 14-11 upset of No. 2 seed Duke in Saturday’s quarterfinal.
“He handles the ball, he can play defense, he can pick up ground balls, he can score,” coach John Tillman said. “The last few years, he’s been tremendous. So I’m really proud of him. A lot of hard work. He’s put a lot into this.”
Wierman’s diligence has paid off. He owns school records in faceoff wins (849) and ground balls (456) and the single-season mark in faceoff wins (298 in 2022); was the first faceoff specialist selected in the 2024 Premier Lacrosse League draft when the Denver Outlaws used the 24th overall pick on him; and was named a second-team All American on Thursday by the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association after earning first-team honors last spring.
But Wierman demurred when asked about a legacy as the greatest faceoff specialist in Maryland history. In fact, he tried to share credit by rattling off a laundry list of teammates who have played wings on the faceoffs, including the current unit of Koras and long-stick midfielders Jack McDonald and AJ Larkin (Loyola Blakefield).
“Greatest or not, I think it’s been an honor to play here. That’s the biggest thing,” he said. “And I’ve had a lot of help along the way. When I was a junior, that was my first year starting, and I had fifth-year guys on the team that picked up a lot of tough ground balls and made my job a lot easier. So I’ve been grateful for that, and I’ve just been coached unbelievably well.”
Maryland faceoff specialist Luke Wierman picks up a ground ball in front of Loyola Maryland’s Eric Pacheco on Feb. 10. (Craig Chase/Loyola Maryland Athletics)
Wierman’s achievements might never have been. Initially planning to play at Fairfield, Wierman reopened his recruitment after former coach and Terps assistant coach Andy Copelan resigned in May 2019. A couple Big Ten programs reached out, but when Tillman contacted him, Wierman said Maryland’s campus was the only one he visited.
Wierman did not play in 2020 and opened 2021 as a complement to primary faceoff specialist Justin Shockey. But Wierman proved to be a quick study and eventually shared duties with Shockey, who ranks seventh in school history in faceoff wins (425) and ninth in ground balls (218).
“Those two complemented each other so well in 2021,” Tillman said. “Our stats were not ideal in ’21, but Luke, him evolving that year gave us a 1-2 punch that really helped us.”
Koras said he is constantly impressed with Wierman’s coolness under pressure.
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“You’d never know when he’s winning every faceoff or losing a couple in a row,” he said. “He’s always steady and even-keeled, and I think that calms our team down a lot.”
Wierman doubled his goal total this spring with those two goals against the Blue Devils, including a left-handed offering from the right-handed specialist. As much as those goals lifted his teammates, Wierman said his top priority is claiming the ball and transferring possession to the offense.
“Just because getting that possession for our team and trying to create our own pace for the game is the most important thing,” he said. “That’s kind of what my job has been, and that’s kind of what I should be focusing on.”
In two NCAA Tournament games thus far, Wierman has won 72.7% of his faceoffs (40 of 55) and collected 23 ground balls. In the Terps’ 14-10 loss to the Cavaliers on March 16, he won 57.1% (16 of 28), picked up 11 loose balls and assisted on one goal despite missing the previous game against Brown.
While junior and Navy transfer Anthony Ghobriel (56.9% on 141 of 248 and 43 ground balls) and graduate student Thomas Colucci (51% on 78 of 153 and 45 ground balls) will be tasked with trying to limit Wierman’s prowess, Virginia coach Lars Tiffany said contributions from junior long-stick midfielder Ben Wayer (91 ground balls) and short-stick defensive midfielders Chase Yager (34 ground balls) and Noah Chizmar (30 ground balls, St. Paul’s) will be necessary.
“Everyone’s going to have to be involved because Luke Wierman is a problem for opponents,” he said. “We’ve got to take our game to the next level because the Luke Wierman we saw two months ago is different from the one we’re seeing today.”
NCAA Tournament Final Four
Saturday at Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia
• Notre Dame vs. Denver, noon
• Maryland vs. Virginia, 2:30 p.m.
TV: ESPN2
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