After a two-week break from competition, the No. 3-seed Maryland women's lacrosse team is back on the field and feeling more connected than ever as they gear up for the NCAA Tournament second round. The Terps, who haven't advanced past the quarterfinals since 2019, are determined to break that cycle—and their journey starts with a familiar Big Ten foe: Rutgers.
"It gets pretty stressful this time of year," said JJ Suriano, the heart and soul of Maryland's defense. "Having that time together, just to goof around and see each other's more relaxed side, has been great." That bonding time has helped the team stay loose and focused as they enter what head coach Cathy Reese calls "season three"—the postseason.
Maryland's quest for a 16th national title kicks off Sunday at 12 p.m. in SECU Stadium, streaming on ESPN Plus. To keep their championship dreams alive, the Terps will need to replicate the dominant performance they delivered against the Scarlet Knights earlier this season.
In their regular-season matchup, Maryland was in near-perfect form. Sitting at No. 1 in the IWLCA rankings and boasting a flawless 12-0 record, the Terps came out firing. They built a commanding 12-3 lead by halftime, fueled by a balanced scoring attack that saw eight different players find the back of the net. Junior attacker Lauren LaPointe led the charge with four goals in what became Maryland's highest-scoring game of the year.
"It just shows how lethal we are from top to bottom," said Kori Edmondson after that win. "We're super deep. We can lean on anyone." That depth has been a hallmark of the Terps' success, and it will be critical against a Rutgers team hungry for revenge.
Defensively, Maryland was equally impressive, allowing just 11 first-half shots and getting six saves from Suriano. The graduating defenders made their senior day one to remember, setting the tone for a unit that has been the backbone of the team all season.
Now, with the pressure of the NCAA Tournament looming, the Terps are leaning on that chemistry and depth to push past the quarterfinal hurdle. If they can channel the same firepower and defensive grit they showed in the regular season, this could be the year Maryland finally breaks through.