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Maryland men’s lacrosse has gotten off to an inefficient start

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Maryland men’s lacrosse has gotten off to an inefficient start


Braden Erksa surveyed the defense from behind the cage. He stood idle for nearly 20 seconds, waiting for a teammate to find separation. Nobody could.

No. 4 Maryland’s offense was stagnant and Erksa decided he would take it upon himself to score. He wrapped around the right side of the goal while the congestion of Terps and Greyhounds stood a few yards away from him.

Erksa turned his hip, leaped and fired a bounce shot that missed poorly. The possession was wasted as the unit failed to find a flow — a continued issue for Maryland men’s lacrosse.

“I feel like we’ve been reckless and kind of forcing things,” coach John Tillman said. “If you don’t have it, just don’t turn it into all or nothing. Move it to the next guy and let’s keep putting pressure on their guys.”

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Last season marked the Terps’ worst campaign in a decade, with their offensive struggles to blame. Their shooting percentage and efficiency marked the program’s worst in recent seasons.

Maryland’s offensive troubles have remained through two games this season despite its perfect start. The unit followed a 33 percent shooting performance in the season-opener with a 23 percent outing in its second game.

[No. 4 Maryland men’s lacrosse wins defensive battle with No. 12 Loyola, 11-4]

One of the highlights of the attack last year was Erksa, whose excellent campaign garnered him Big Ten Freshman of the Year honors. He started this season with a hat trick against Richmond but scored just one goal on 10 attempts against No. 12 Loyola on Saturday.

The score showcased Erksa’s strong shot power but came unguarded off a transition feed — the sophomore has struggled at times in a set offense.

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Eric Malever played a key role as a starter in the program’s undefeated national championship in 2022. The Terps were without Malever last year as he missed the entire season with leg injuries, limiting the offense’s capabilities. The former five-star recruit is healthy but has returned to a shaky start in 2024, connecting on just two of 11 shots through two games.

“We’re just gonna have to keep working, keep shooting our shots,” Malever said. “Shots are gonna fall. We’ll keep getting great game plans by our coaches and we’re gonna keep getting better.”

Erksa and Malever are two of three Terps to total at least 10 shots through two contests. Daniel Maltz, fresh off a two-goal outing against Loyola, has tallied 14 attempts. All three players have shot below 30 percent this season.

[Maryland men’s lacrosse reserves the No. 1 for program standouts. Enter Ajax Zappitello.]

Maryland’s troubles on offense go beyond its leading trio. Of every player to record at least two shots so far, the lone Terp shooting more than 35 percent is Ryan Siracusa. The team’s 27.7 overall shooting percentage ranks No. 36 in the country, and its 27.1 percent offensive efficiency ranks No. 33.

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Maryland’s offense hit lulls against both Richmond and Loyola, going scoreless for spans of at least eight minutes three times in each game.

“Our mindset is 0-0 no matter what,” Malever said. “Having that next-play mentality is really big for us.”

The Terps’ offense has struggled when they go deep into the shot clock. They’ve needed to rely on early looks from unlikely places to find sparks, like Ajax Zappitello’s transition score against Richmond and Colin Burlace’s pole goal just five seconds into the shot clock against Loyola.

“It’s so hard to score six-on-six, so if you have poles that can handle the ball … those are juice goals,” Tillman said.

Maryland is perfect through two games this season, but its offense hasn’t found much rhythm, especially in set pieces. The unit’s inefficiency held the Terps back last year — they’ll need more consistency as the campaign goes on.

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Maryland confirms 5 new measles cases, bringing year’s total to 9 – WTOP News

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Maryland confirms 5 new measles cases, bringing year’s total to 9 – WTOP News


The state said the five recently traveled together to “a location in the U.S. experiencing an active measles outbreak.”

Maryland health officials confirmed five more measles cases, all in Carroll County.

“These individuals recently traveled together to a location in the U.S. experiencing an active measles outbreak,” the state Department of Health said in a release.

The agency said others may have been exposed on the afternoon of July 13 in the emergency department waiting room at Carroll Hospital Center in Westminster.

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Another measles case recently prompted warnings from health officials in Maryland, Virginia and the District. On June 17, a Maryland resident traveled through Dulles International Airport and visited a D.C. urgent care clinic.

Measles is highly contagious. It can spread through the air through coughs, breathing, and sneezes. Early symptoms can include fevers of over 101 degrees, coughs, runny noses, watery eyes and face or body rashes.

It can take up to 21 days after exposure for the first symptoms to appear, and those who are not fully vaccinated or otherwise immune to measles are especially vulnerable.

The five new measles cases in Maryland bring the state’s year-to-date total to nine. The state health department confirmed three cases in 2025, and one in each of the previous two years.

“All Marylanders should review potential exposure times, watch for symptoms, and confirm they are up to date on their measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccinations,” the health department said.

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Maryland Fall Home & Garden + Craft Show returning in October

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Maryland Fall Home & Garden + Craft Show returning in October


Baltimore may be under an extreme heat alert, but residents can dream about autumn, as tickets are now on sale for the Maryland Fall Home & Garden + Craft Show returning to the Maryland State Fairgrounds in October.

This three-day celebration of home and garden takes place from Friday, Oct. 16 through Sunday, Oct. 18 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day. Expect hundreds of exhibitors, local makers, home improvement experts, family-friendly experiences and celebrity guests. The show offers everyone the chance to explore the very latest in home improvement, landscaping, outdoor living and decor, the chance to take part in hands-on experiences, and do some holiday shopping all under one roof.

This year’s show will have more than 300 exhibitors, including more than 100 crafters from around Maryland in the Makers Market. There will be unique exhibits, stage presentations and a special appearance by Chase Morrill, Ashley Morrill-Eldridge and Ryan Eldridge from Magnolia Network’s hit series “Maine Cabin Masters.” The three will have two Main Stage appearances, one on Friday, Oct. 16 at 4 p.m. and the second on Saturday, Oct. 17 at 12 p.m.

“As temperatures start to drop and the holiday season comes into view, the Maryland Fall Home & Garden + Craft Show is a place to gather ideas, meet local experts and get inspired before the busy season begins,” said Dave Paul, show manager, in a statement. “Whether attendees are planning a home project, looking for outdoor living ideas or getting a head start on holiday shopping, the show brings together resources and experiences for every kind of homeowner, maker and DIY enthusiast.”

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In addition to the Makers Market and stars of “Maine Cabin Masters”, the Maryland Fall Home & Garden + Craft Show will have a petting zoo, a Kids Market where attendees can shop from local children, and much more.

Tickets are available online and at the door. Prices are as follows:

Online:

  • Adults: $8
  • Senior Citizens (60+): $6
  • Children (ages 6-12): $4
  • 4-Pack Online: $30 for four tickets, valid for one admission each and one day only

At the door:

  • Adults: $10
  • Senior Citizens (60+): $8
  • Children (ages 6-12): $4
  • Friday & Saturday: $4 after 4 p.m. at the door only

Special Offers:

  • Active and retired military personnel, veterans, firefighters and police officers receive free admission all weekend, along with one guest, with valid ID at the box office.
  • Attendees who show a CharmPass app, Light RailLink ticket or eligible transit pass at the box office receive free admission any day of the show. One admission is available per pass.

The Maryland State Fairgrounds is located at 2200 York Road in Lutherville-Timonium.

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Maryland police arrest alleged bank robber wielding stolen cat: ‘Tried to use her as an accessory’

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Maryland police arrest alleged bank robber wielding stolen cat: ‘Tried to use her as an accessory’


Law enforcement agencies are accustomed to dealing with cat burglars – but now a Maryland police department is saying it grappled with a cat-wielding bank robber.

The Prince George’s county police department said its officers arrested a man suspected of stealing a cat and then taking the animal with him to a PNC bank branch in the local community of Beltsville to rob the establishment on Monday morning.

Emily Mullen, a Pet Supplies Plus employee, holds Magnolia. Photograph: Beltsville Community Cats

“The cat was returned” after the suspect was arrested, the police department said in a statement to the Guardian on Tuesday. The agency said no injuries were reported, and it declined to name the suspect or release additional details, saying the case – bound for a spot in the annals of bizarre reported US crimes – remained under investigation.

Nonetheless, a social media post from rescue shelter Beltsville Community Cats provided more information.

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A Beltsville Community Cats Facebook page post on Monday identified the cat at the center of the alleged botched caper as Magnolia, a three-and-a-half-month-old tuxedo kitten. The shelter recounted how the suspect first snatched Magnolia from her “adoption habitat” at Beltsville’s Pet Supplies Plus store, took her across the parking lot to a PNC branch, and “tried to use her as an accessory in [an] attempted robbery”.

“He asked the bank manager to hold the kitten while he wrote a note, then handed the note to a teller demanding all the cash,” the post continued. “Thankfully, the robbery was unsuccessful, the suspect was arrested, and Magnolia was found safe and sound in the bank manager’s office, where the two had bonded over their shared ordeal.”

Pet Supplies Plus store employees told the NBC affiliate in nearby Washington DC that Magnolia’s cat napper had come in daily for about two weeks and focused on the kitten each time.

Finally, on Monday, he managed to use a key to open a cat adoption area and whisked Magnolia away, store employees said to the outlet, WRC.

Store manager Aaron Kurkowski told WRC that Magnolia’s thief “came in and saw none of my team was nearby the front – and he just went right to her and ran right on out”.

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According to WRC, Stephanie Stullich of Beltsville Community Cats then received a call from a pet store employee who alerted her to Magnolia’s plight.

Magnolia, our sweet 3.5-month-old tuxedo kitten, had quite the adventure today after being stolen from her adoption habitat at Pet Supplies Plus in Beltsville. Photograph: Beltsville Community Cats

That prompted Stullich to run over to the store, where she said to WRC that she “immediately saw all of these police cars and … thought, ‘Wow, that’s a heck of a response for a stolen cat’.”

“But then I realized they all were going down to the bank,” Stullich recalled to WRC. “They came back out a few minutes later and said, ‘Yes, there is a cat inside the bank.’”

Two days before her catnapping, Magnolia was the subject of a Beltsville Community Cats Facebook post inviting people to see her at Pet Supplies Plus and consider adopting her.

Magnolia as of Monday was still waiting to be adopted, Beltsville Community Cats said in its post detailing the bank robbery.

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The non-profit organization offered members of the public the opportunity to apply to adopt Magnolia by emailing rescue@beltsvillecats.net.

Beltsville Community Cats’ post also joked that Magnolia’s “brief ‘life of crime’ is behind her” – except for undoubtedly “stealing” hearts, treats, toys and cuddles wherever her forever home may be.



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