Maryland women’s lacrosse’s collapse leads to 15-14 NCAA tournament defeat against James Madison

Maryland women’s lacrosse scored twice in 35 seconds midway through the fourth quarter to extend its lead to four. It looked like the Terps would run away with a big win over No. 7-seed James Madison in the second round of the NCAA tournament.

But the Dukes, led by attacker Isabella Peterson, staged a furious comeback in the final seven minutes. The redshirt junior scored twice in the run, but it was redshirt freshman attacker Caitlin McElwee whose sixth goal of the season put them ahead 15-14 with under a minute left.

Maryland (15-7) couldn’t muster anything on one final possession, as James Madison (19-2) advanced to the quarterfinals in a back-and-forth thriller on its home turf.

“I’m proud of our girls for the way that we came out,” coach Cathy Reese said. “It was a battle all the way… down to the last second.”

Peterson finished with seven goals and two assists — tying a season-high in points and jumping into the Division I lead in that category.

Senior Hannah Leubecker spearheaded an offensive performance that saw the Terps tie the highest goal total James Madison has allowed all season. They doubled their seven-goal performance in the teams’ last contest.

But Maryland’s defensive woes in the fourth frame cost the Terps their season.

The Dukes got right to work, winning the opening draw and scoring on their first possession. 

And after Peterson’s 83rd goal of the year doubled their lead two minutes later, it looked like Maryland would have to play from behind once again — it was held scoreless in the first quarter of the schools’ March bout.

But the next three goals came from the Terps. They got off six first-quarter shots-on-goal against James Madison’s defense — who allows the third-fewest goals per game in the nation.

Senior Shaylan Ahearn scored two of those. The midfielder and draw specialist contributed all over the field Sunday, tallying three points, three ground balls and a strong showing in the circle.

James Madison’s early two-goal lead was the biggest lead at any point in the first half, as the sides alternated action throughout a thrilling second quarter. The teams combined for an efficient nine tallies on 13 shots-on-goal in the frame.

Freshman midfielder Kori Edmondson converted Maryland’s first two tallies, split up by another Peterson goal. Leubecker added a pair of tallies, including a step-shot from outside the arc as she continues to build trust in her range late this season.

But the Dukes stuck in it, partially due to two second-quarter free-position goals. They’re one of the best teams in the country from eight meters — entering the match converting .526 of such attempts, the country’s ninth-highest mark — and drained four of five against the Terps.

Edmondson topped off the half with one more goal from eight-meters, completing a second-frame hat trick.

“We have all the confidence in the world in her,” Reese said. “You can see the competitor in her and how tough she is, and she rose up.”

The third quarter was all Maryland. Its defense turned in one of the best stretches it has all year — the Dukes shot just three times all quarter. The double-team heavy Terps were not fooled or outrun by a James Madison offense doing its best to cause confusion.

On the other end of the field, senior attacker Libby May finally got on the scoreboard with her team-leading 61st goal less than three minutes into the second half. And Leubecker responded to the Dukes’ only third-quarter goal with two of her own shortly after. The attacker’s confidence, which seemed to teeter at times as she dealt with a nagging hamstring injury, was on full display as she attempted a variety of difficult shots.

A tally from junior attacker Chrissy Thomas extended the Maryland lead to four. But a quiet 11-minute stretch from the offensive unit and two more Peterson goals allowed James Madison to claw back in it.

Thomas and May went back-to-back with a little under 10 minutes left in the game. But a four-goal advantage wasn’t enough with the Dukes’ starpower, who stormed back — including three goals from 2:42 to 0:54 — to stun the Terps, as their 2023 campaign ended on a sour note.

“We have gone through a lot, on the field [and] off the field … and I think the relationships that these guys have built [are] really powerful,” Reese said. “That’s what they’re going to remember more than this game.”