The Maryland men's lacrosse program received a major boost this week with news that three key players will be returning for the 2027 season. Henry Dodge, Brian Ruppel, and Riley Reese have all been granted an additional year of eligibility, giving head coach John Tillman a strong foundation to build around as the Terps navigate a period of significant roster turnover.

Henry Dodge, the standout faceoff specialist, was a revelation in his first season in College Park. Finishing second in the nation with a remarkable 67.9% faceoff win percentage, Dodge earned First Team All-Big Ten honors and helped Maryland post the third-best faceoff success rate in the country. He'll once again team up with Jonah Carrier to form a formidable faceoff committee that opponents will dread facing.

On the defensive end, Riley Reese emerged as a vocal leader after stepping into the starting lineup. His impact was immediate and undeniable—Reese logged a game-winning goal during Big Ten play and forced five of his ten turnovers in a standout performance against Rutgers. Alongside Peter Laake, Reese will anchor a defensive unit that found its rhythm in the second half of the season.

In goal, Brian Ruppel faced the unenviable task of replacing longtime starter Logan McNaney. While his first season had its ups and downs—including some high-scoring games during a tough losing streak—Ruppel showed his resilience by recording at least 10 saves in nine of 13 starts. His return provides much-needed stability between the pipes and answers one of the Terps' biggest offseason questions.

With 14 incoming freshmen and 15 players departing, Tillman has limited room to retool through the transfer portal. But the continuity provided by these three returning starters across the faceoff, defense, and goalkeeper positions should ease concerns and keep Maryland competitive as they reload for 2027.