University of Maryland men's lacrosse defeated Johns Hopkins Saturday, sealing the 2016 Big Ten Title as well taking home "The Rivalry Trophy."
Coach John Tillman's Terps are happy to be the uncontested conference winners this season, but the celebrations was short lived as they look ahead to the Big Ten championship tournament.
"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," Tillman said in a release. "I don't think it will really sink in now, but I think down the road, it will be really important to them."
In the Big Ten Conference's short history, Maryland is the first outright winner. Saturday's win extends the Terps win streak to 11 consecutive games.
Since Tillman took over as head coach in 2010, the Terps have been extremely successful, especially defensively. Maryland's defense has been ranked in the top 10 each of the last five years.
Tillman is just the ninth coach in the program's 85-year history. He's led the Terps to four NCAA tournaments in the past five seasons, including three NCAA championship game appearances. But he's still searching for that NCAA title.
Despite three championship appearances since 2011, Maryland has not won a national title since Bud Beardman coached the Terps to a victory against Navy in 1975.
Maryland is looking to grab an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament and a chance to end the championship drought.
If the Terps win the Big Ten Conference Tournament they will automatically be qualified for the big dance. Top-ranked Maryland will take on Penn State Thursday at 5:30 p.m. in the Big Ten Tournament semifinals at Homewood Field on the campus of University of Maryland.
No. 3 Johns Hopkins will face Rutgers at 8 p.m.
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