Preview: No. 2 Maryland women’s lacrosse prepares for top five matchup against No. 4 Syracuse

No. 2 Maryland women’s lacrosse’s defense is arguably the most talented unit in the country. But, like any team early on, it showed room for improvement in the season-opener.

“I know [assistant coach Lauri] Kenis wasn’t real thrilled with some of the things we did defensively,” coach Cathy Reese said. “We’ve got a lot of new faces in this mix, with only a couple that are returning, so from that perspective we’re starting from a great place”

That group will be tested when the Terps (1-0) travel to New York to battle No. 4 Syracuse (1-0) — currently the highest-ranked opponent on Maryland’s schedule — on Friday.

Syracuse and Maryland are ex-ACC rivals, although the word ‘rival’ may not be correct — the Terps are 23-2 all-time against the Orange. Syracuse did, however, win the last matchup in 2020, 10-5.

The Orange lost their all-time leading goal scorer in Emily Hawryschuk after last season, but the attack they deploy in her absence is still deep and talented.

Coach Kayla Treanor enters her second year as one of the most exciting minds in the sport. A four-time first team All American at Syracuse, she was known for her offensive creativity as a player. Now a coach, she brings the same feel to her roster.

“A lot of their players are very dynamic and multi-dimensional, they can feed, they can score, they can dodge, they can do all sorts of things, which was just like she was as a player too,” Reese said.

They’re led by the four-headed monster of graduate students Meaghan Tyrrell and Megan Carney, senior Emma Tyrrell and junior Emma Ward. Ward suffered a leg injury that sidelined her all of last season, and the younger Tyrrell started 12 games before a lower-body injury also knocked her out for the remainder of the season. 

All Meaghan did in their absence was score 78 goals — one short of Treanor’s single-season school record — as part of a campaign that made her a Tewaaraton finalist. Carney also notched an All-American honorable mention, finishing third on the team in goals and fourth in assists. 

Tyrrell still ended the year third on the team in points, and touted an absurd .833 free position percentage on 12 attempts. Ward is more of a question mark, but was still named a preseason All-American honorable mention coming into this season. Adding them back into the mix creates a formidable foe for any opponent.

“We need to make sure we’re playing a really tight-knit team defense,” Reese said. “You can’t rely on any one person to be able to defend a Tyrrell or a Megan Carney or an Emma Ward. Our team needs to do it together.”

The returners combined for seven goals in Syracuse’s 16-15 win against No. 5 Northwestern last Saturday. Meaghan made good use of the talent around her, racking up a team-leading six assists alongside three goals of her own.

Despite the growing pains, Maryland’s defense only allowed five goals to Saint Joseph’s in its season-opener. The Terps also dominated the Hawks physically. They have plenty to work on, but they’re happy with where they are as they travel to Syracuse.

“We’re gonna have to keep being tenacious and keep communicating on-ball and off-ball,” redshirt freshman defender Kennedy Major said.

The Terps may be without their top transfer, graduate student defender Marge Donovan. She suffered an ankle injury in the opener and is day-to-day going into Friday, according to Reese.

Offensively, Maryland wants to establish a selfless identity as it moves on from Aurora Cordingley. The Terps succeeded in this goal against Saint Joseph’s, as nine different Terps scored. But they shot just .405, and Reese wants to see their efficiency increase going forward.

“[Syracuse’s defense is] physical, it’s aggressive, they try to take up space, and we need to continue to move the ball and be smart with our decisions,” Reese said.

Reese has made clear her wish to have seven scoring threats at all times. This tasks the Terps’ top-ranked freshman class with a lot. 

Three of their four top 15 recruits — midfielders Kori Edmondson, Emma Muchnick and Jaylen Rosga — recorded points against Saint Joseph, and the fourth, attacker Maggie Weisman, picked up a ground ball. All four received substantial playing time. The offensive depth they provide will be instrumental if Maryland wants to make a run.

They’ll likely be shooting at senior Delaney Sweitzer. Sweitzer split playing time with current redshirt senior Kimber Hower for the first five games last season before Hower was named full-time starter. But Sweitzer got the starting nod against Northwestern and shined. She notched 11 saves, shattering her previous career high of four, en route to the win.

Face-off is scheduled for 3 p.m. at SECU Stadium.

“It’ll be a very good game and a hard-fought game for both teams, and I just can’t wait to play them,” Major said.