Re-tooled with new faces, No. 2 Maryland women’s lacrosse has high expectations for 2023 campaign

No. 2 Maryland women’s lacrosse enters the year as one of the most feared teams in the country, and the Terps will look to finally earn the hardware to match that distinction.

It’s been almost four years since the Terps’ last national championship — a drought by Maryland’s standards. Four years is tied for Maryland’s longest streak without a title under coach Cathy Reese — although this span includes the COVID-shortened 2020 season.

The Terps came oh-so close last year, falling to Boston College in thrilling fashion. Maryland led 16-13 with just over seven minutes remaining, but the Eagles mounted a comeback with a game-winning goal with 18.8 seconds remaining.

That loss provided motivation for a team chomping at the bit to get back in a position to compete for a national title.

“We hated that feeling,” graduate student defender Abby Bosco, USA Lacrosse Magazine’s Preseason Defender of the Year, said. “That was the worst feeling ever, and no one on this team wants to ever feel that again.”

The Terps must adjust to a world without 2022 Big Ten Attacker of the Year and Tewaaraton Award finalist Aurora Cordingley. She led the Big Ten in points per game last year, and led the Terps in total points with 118. But a hungry and talented attack looks primed and ready to make up for her lost offensive output. 

It’s led by seniors Libby May and Hannah Leubecker, both of whom were named USA Lacrosse Magazine Third Team Preseason All-Americans. May emphasized how Maryland’s ability to have dangerous attackers on the field at all times keeps them energized, but she also made sure to highlight the role junior Eloise Clevinger will play in 2023.

“She had a great season last year,” May said. “Coming into this year as an upperclassman to step into a leadership role, and I’m very excited to see where she takes that.” 

On the other side of the field, the Terps’ defensive group makes a compelling case for the best in the NCAA. A unit that allowed the nation’s second-fewest goals per game last season returns almost all of its starters and adds multiple premier talents to go with them.

The additions are headlined by the 2022 Ivy League Defender of the Year, Princeton transfer Marge Donovan. The Baltimore County native decided to return to her home state for her fifth year, and earned a Second Team Preseason All-American nod last month.

“She’s really settling in and gelling and connecting with our defense very well,” Reese said.

Kennedy Major and redshirt junior Clancy Rheude will also provide defensive boosts. Major, a redshirt freshman, was the nation’s top-ranked defender in the Class of 2021, and Rheude was America East’s 2021 Co-Defensive Player of the Year at Albany before her first season at Maryland was derailed due to injury. They’ll both be making their debuts on Saturday.

This isn’t to omit a very talented group of middies, however. Senior Shaylan Ahearn, a Second Team Preseason All-American nominee, spearheads a young unit that Reese views as crucial to the team’s success, especially offensively — she noted her emphasis on having seven players that can score on the field at all times. 

Despite last year’s crushing ending, expectations are lofty for the Terps heading into the season. Big Ten coaches voted them favorites to win the league, and with six USA Lacrosse Preseason All-Americans on the roster, they’re expected to be a tough out come May.

Nonetheless, Reese knows the importance of focusing on the task at hand. 

“The only thing we’re talking about is the here and the now, and looking to get better one day at a time,” Reese said. “There’s going to be ups and downs as we go through the season, but we need to try to break down some things to really build this group up.

The Terps will open their season against the defending Atlantic 10 champion in Saint Joseph’s. Reese’s influence is felt heavily on their coaching staff; she played with and coached head coach Alex Kahoe at Maryland, and both assistant coaches — Caroline Steele and Grace Griffin — were Terps under Reese as well. 

“To have the opportunity to welcome them back to College Park… it’s just something that’s really special,” Reese said.

Maryland’s season-opener is Saturday at 1 p.m. at SECU Stadium in College Park.