Despite flashing brilliance, Maryland women’s lacrosse lacked star power in 2023

Two contests against the Big Ten’s best in Northwestern proved Maryland women’s lacrosse fell short of elite in 2023.

The Terps’ 2023 roster featured depth — there was plenty of talent in all three phases, up and down the roster. And when they played inferior opponents, they usually took care of business — evident by a midseason nine-game win streak in which they scored at least 13 goals in every contest.

But Maryland didn’t have the starpower the program has become accustomed to. The 2023 campaign was the first season under coach Cathy Reese that the school didn’t have a Tewaaraton Award finalist — and it showed against the best of the best.

When the Terps traveled to Evanston in late April to take on Northwestern, the Wildcats’ attack — a unit featuring two Tewaaraton finalists in Izzy Scane and Erin Coykendall  — was on the ropes at halftime. But they outmatched the Terps late, pulling away to win 13-6. 

The same situation presented itself two weeks later in the Big Ten tournament championship. Maryland trailed by just one entering halftime, but didn’t have an answer for the Wildcats when it mattered most, losing 14-9.

James Madison ended Maryland’s season in the second round of the NCAA tournament, storming back from a four-point deficit with under seven minutes left. Just like against the Wildcats, the Terps couldn’t stop a Tewaaraton finalist late against the Dukes — this time Isabella Peterson — who scored four times and dished out an assist in the final frame. 

Maryland’s defense was solid in 2023 — 20th in the nation in per-game scoring defense — but took a step back from the previous year, when it held opponents to a conference-low 7.8 goals a contest.

But the unit struggled with consistency all year. While it turned in incredible performances at times — including shutting out Northwestern in a quarter, the first time a defense had done so this season — it also broke down and allowed runs like the five-goal fourth quarter explosion by James Madison in the NCAA tournament, ending the Terps’ season in disappointing fashion.

Maryland entered the season ranked No. 2 by Inside Lacrosse, and was quickly humbled by then-No. 4 Syracuse in a 20-9 rout early in the year.

The Terps struggled against premier opponents all season, finishing 1-6 against teams seeded in the NCAA tournament. They went 0-5 against schools with a Tewaaraton finalist. Their .682 win percentage was the second-lowest in a full season with Reese at the helm.

But that’s not to discount their dominance when they weren’t facing the best of the best.

“I don’t know that we’ve had another year that we’ve grown as much as a team, as we have throughout the season,” Reese said after Maryland defeated Ohio State on April 8.

The pieces are in place for a bounceback 2024 campaign for the Terps.

Offensive pieces like junior attackers Chrissy Thomas and Kate Sites carved their ways into roles late in the season, and are poised for expanded roles in 2024.

Midfielder Kori Edmundson — the No. 1 recruit in the Class of 2022 — dazzled in her freshman campaign, finishing second on the team in goals and consistently improving defensively.

But it’s not just her abilities that make her a budding star. Her energy and intensity are unmatched on the field, and Reese said that she’s already a leader in the clubhouse.

“She’s doing really well defensively, great transition and on offense, she’s just not afraid,” Reese said. “She’s not going to back down from anyone.”

Pending transfers, a lot of the roster will stay intact and have another year of experience under its belt. Next year’s Maryland squad will feature double-digit players with at least three years of experience.

“They have really built [themselves] a strong foundation to take them into their fifth year,” Reese said. “These guys have gone through a lot and are obviously hungry for more.”

The Terps failed to reach the NCAA tournament semifinals for just the fourth time with Reese at the helm. But high expectations should remain for 2024.