No. 11 Maryland women’s lacrosse dominates Georgetown, 13-4

Early in the first frame, Brianna Lamoureux had a pass intercepted in transition — a rarity for a Maryland team that leads the country in clear percentage. Goalkeeper Emily Sterling had already abandoned the net, leaving an apparent wide-open shot for Georgetown’s Katie Goldsmith. 

But the goalkeeper made an incredible over-the-shoulder save, giving No. 11 Maryland women’s lacrosse (6-3) the ball back and preventing Georgetown (4-5) from drawing first blood.

That was the first save of what ended as the IWLCA Preseason National Goaltender of the Year’s best game of the season. She saved 15 shots at an absurd .789 clip, guiding the Terps to a 13-4 victory over their cross-town rivals at SECU Stadium Wednesday night.

“Her abilities are phenomenal, and if we can put her in positions to make saves, she’s going to do that,” coach Cathy Reese said. “Her vision and tracking the ball tonight was extraordinary.”

It was Maryland’s most efficient shooting performance of the night, scoring 13 goals on just 23 shots — a .565 shooting percentage. It was a welcome sight for a Terps offense with the third-worst shooting percentage in the Big Ten coming into the game.

Midfielder Jordyn Lipkin opened the scoring three minutes after Sterling’s save, taking a feed in front of the crease and banking it over Hoyas senior goalkeeper Emily Gaven’s shoulder. 

Then it was freshman midfielder Kori Edmondson’s time to make her presence known. She continued her midseason tear, drawing two free-position attempts in 37 seconds, scoring them both. She finished the game with her fourth consecutive hat trick, and despite only starting three games this season, is now second on the team with 16 goals. 

Reese said after the game that Edmondson’s confidence has soared as she makes her way through her first collegiate season.

“She’s actually, even as a freshman, a leader for us on the team,” Reese said. “She’s doing really well defensively, great transition and on offense she’s just not afraid.”

Lipkin was responsible for Maryland’s next two goals. The first came on its third straight free-position attempt — an area in which the Terps have struggled with all season. They’re shooting under .500 this year, but converted four of six shots against the Hoyas. 

The sophomore notched a hat trick of her own, her first since the season opener against Saint Joseph’s and the fourth of her young career. 

“She’s a great eight meter shooter, and she’s one of the best shooting percentages on our team,” Reese said. “If we can get the ball to her stick in the middle then she’s going to make something happen with it.” 

Junior midfielder Tatum Geist finally got the Hoyas on the board with 1:07 left in the first quarter. 

Maryland’s defense was firing on all cylinders from the initial draw. Georgetown was active on offense, trying to free up cutters against the Terps’ double team-heavy defense. But their communication was flawless, and the Hoyas were forced to use huge chunks — if not all — of the shot clock nearly every possession.

“We really gave up what we wanted to give up and forced the shots that we wanted to force,” Sterling said, “which put me in a position just to do all the cleanup work.”

But they lapsed briefly midway through the second quarter. Georgetown scored twice in three minutes — first off a shot beyond the arc from graduate student attacker Erin Bakes, then on an eight-meter attempt from junior attacker Kylie Hazen. 

The latter was its only free-position goal of the night. The Terps held them to just five attempts from the arc on the night.

Five Terps scored their five second quarter goals. 

Lipkin got the first 1:37 into the frame, before two juniors — midfielder Shannon Smith and attacker Chrissy Thomas — scored within 26 seconds of each other. Four minutes later, Edmondson fed junior attacker Victoria Hensh, and with 41 seconds left in the half, the freshman scored herself to complete her hat trick.

Maryland went into the half with a 9-3 lead and plenty of momentum.

Hazen fed freshman attacker Gracie Driggs a minute into the third quarter to cut the lead to five. But two minutes later, freshman attacker Emma Muchnick responded with a goal of her own.

That was all the noise either offense made in the quarter, as both defenses held their own and the score remained 10-4 entering the fourth.

In a connection between midfielders, Shaylan Ahearn fed Natalie Pansini for the latter’s fourth goal in three games. Smith scored 34 seconds later. 

Defensively, the depth occasionally struggled with communication in the final quarter, but it didn’t hurt Maryland on the scoreboard. One more goal, courtesy of Ahearn, closed out the Terps’ third-straight strong offensive showing.

They’ll begin a two-game road stretch Saturday at 12 p.m. in New Jersey, facing off against No. 22 Rutgers — the first Big Ten opponent on their schedule.