Preview: No. 11 Maryland women’s lacrosse prepares for conference opener against No. 22 Rutgers

No. 11 Maryland women’s lacrosse (6-3, 0-0 Big Ten) travels to No. 22 Rutgers (4-3, 0-1 Big Ten) on Saturday, entering Big Ten play on its hottest stretch of the year.

The Terps ride into New Jersey on a three-game winning streak in which they’ve scored an average of 16.7 goals. 

“When you play against zones, there’s always someone [pressuring], it’s never going to be really clean and easy to get a shot off,” coach Cathy Reese said. “We’re doing a much better job at that.”

Maryland has been equally dominant on defense. 

The unit, which features three new starters this season, is finally looking like a cohesive group. The Terps have been excellent in forcing opponents to take up the shot clock, pressuring bad attempts and creating turnovers. In the win streak, the Maryland defense has allowed just 4.7 goals a game.

But it’s come against three unranked opponents, none of which have the defensive prowess of Rutgers.

The Scarlet Knights present a greater challenge on paper than any of Maryland’s three previous opponents. But if the Terps’ offense can stay on pace, it’s hard to see Rutgers keeping up with them.

Rutgers came into the season with sky-high expectations, but have not met them thus far. The Scarlet Knights began the year ranked No. 8 after a 16-5 2022 campaign where they earned their second-consecutive and third-ever NCAA tournament bid. They started the season where it left off, winning their first three games — including a ranked win over No. 19 Jacksonville.

But they followed that up with three consecutive losses, the last of those to No. 25 Penn State in their conference-opener.

Rutgers’ calling card is its defense. The Scarlet Knights allow 9.5 goals a game — on a schedule that’s put them up against three ranked opponents already — tied for 22nd in the NCAA among Division I programs. 

Senior defender Meghan Ball, a Preseason second team All-American, spearheads a veteran group — eight of 10 midfielders and defenders to start a game are upperclassmen. And when that defense does let up, they have junior goalkeeper Sophia Cardello behind them, who leads the Big Ten with a .504 save percentage.

But they’ll have to deal with Maryland’s offense — and a budding superstar in Kori Edmondson.

The freshman midfielder played under the coaching of former Maryland star Taylor Cummings at McDonogh. And while it’s unfair to compare any freshman to the only three-time Tewaaraton Award winner ever, Edmondson is playing incredible lacrosse in March — and the flashes of brilliance are there.

She comes into Saturday with four-straight hat tricks. And after scoring just three goals in her first five games, she’s skyrocketed to second on the team with 16.

“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. She’s not going to back down from anyone.”

The Terps’ offensive breakout has not been led by senior attacker Libby May. Maryland’s leading scorer scored six times in the three-game stretch — by no means a bad number, but she’s due for a game like the two six-goal performances that won her IWLCA National Co-Offensive Player of the Week earlier this year.

“I’m excited to see our [offensive] chemistry grow,” May said. “Going into these next few games and especially conference play, how we can kind of gel together and make that a little bit better.”

On the other side, the Scarlet Knights’ offense has not given them any favors this season. They’re last in the conference in goals per game, and Maryland’s defense is not forgiving. It’s 11th in the country in scoring defense this year, and second in the Big Ten.

“I go back to even our first couple games of the season….we weren’t helping on D, we weren’t getting our slides where they needed to be.” Reese said. “And when they could do that, they’ll put them in positions for [senior goalkeeper Emily Sterling] to make those saves.”

Graduate student defender Abby Bosco and senior midfielder Shaylan Ahearn are the reigning Big Ten Player of the Week at their respective positions. Bosco has been phenomenal on both defense and transition, and Ahearn helped Maryland outdraw its last three opponents a combined 52-23.

Faceoff is scheduled for 12 p.m. at SHI Stadium.