COLLEGE PARK, Md. – Coming off the program's 11th NCAA Championship, the Maryland women's lacrosse team welcomes a new challenge in 2015 as a founding member of Big Ten lacrosse. Head coach Cathy Reese announced the Terrapins' schedule Wednesday.
“This season holds a lot of exciting challenges because so much of it is unknown,” said Reese. “We're playing Florida for the first time ever; we're reigniting local rivalries against Georgetown and Hopkins. Then we begin a difficult conference slate in our first season in the Big Ten. It's an exciting season for us because we don't know what to expect.”
The Terps will face 11 programs that competed in the 2014 NCAA Tournament, and 12 teams that were either ranked or received votes in the final IWLCA Coaches' Poll of the season.
Maryland kicks off the season at William & Mary on Feb. 15 at 2 p.m. The Terps take on former conference rival North Carolina in College Park on Feb. 21 at noon.
After a trip to Long Island, N.Y., to face Hofstra on Feb. 28 at 1 p.m., Maryland hosts intrastate rival UMBC on March 4 at 7 p.m. In a rematch of the 2014 national championship game, the Terps host Syracuse on March 7 at noon.
Maryland takes a short trip to Towson on March 11 before playing Florida for the first time in program history at home on March 14.
The Terps host Penn on March 18 at 7 p.m. and James Madison March 21 at noon.
Maryland begins the first season of Big Ten lacrosse at Northwestern on March 26. The Terps then travel close to home to face Georgetown for the first time since 2012 in Washington, D.C., on April 1.
Rutgers comes to College Park on April 4, and Maryland closes faces off against Princeton at home on April 8 at 7 p.m.
After a trip to Ohio State on April 12, the Terps finish their nonconference schedule at Johns Hopkins on April 15. Maryland takes on the Blue Jays for the first time since 2009.
The Terps close the regular season at home against Michigan on April 18 and Penn State on April 23.
The inaugural Big Ten Tournament, hosted by Rutgers in Piscataway, N.J., will take place April 30-May 3. The first and second rounds of the NCAA Tournament will be hosted at campus sites from May 8-10. The third round will take place on May 16 at campus sites. The Final Four will be at PPL Park in Chester, Pa., from May 22-24.
Maryland's 23 wins in 2014 tied a program record. The Terps return 11 of 12 starters in 2015, including reigning Tewaaraton Award winner Taylor Cummings.
