COLLEGE PARK, Md. – Brooke Griffin and Megan Whittle each scored four times as the No. 1 Maryland women's lacrosse team (8-0) defeated No. 11 Penn (6-1), 12-7, Wednesday at the Field Hockey & Lacrosse Complex.
“Tonight was a hard-fought game,” said head coach Cathy Reese. “We struggled in some areas, but we played well in some areas. Penn's a good team. We give them a lot of credit; they fought hard and they played very well defensively.”
Taylor Cummings added a hat trick, and Zoe Stukenberg scored once. Cummings led the Terps with 11 draw controls and four caused turnovers.
After the Quakers took an early 1-0 lead on a free-position shot, Cummings put the Terrapins on the board as she finished a backdoor pass from Griffin at 24:29. Cummings gave Maryland the lead at 20:02 with a sharp-angled shot.
The Quakers added another 8-meter goal to tie the game again at 17:06. Cummings won a draw and found Griffin, who scored on the breakaway at 16:59 to give the Terps the lead back. Whittle finished the first-half scoring with two unassisted goals as Maryland took a 6-2 lead into the break.
Whittle tallied her third straight goal at 28:06 in the second half. Griffin circled from behind the goal to score at 26:48. After a Penn goal, Cummings finished a free-position shot as the Terps took an 8-3 lead.
Griffin scored Maryland's next two goals, including an incredible behind-the-back shot. Stukenberg cut through two defenders to score at 13:33, and Whittle completed an 8-meter goal as Maryland took a 12-4 lead. The Quakers were able to score three goals, but the Maryland defense held them without another opportunity for the last three minutes. The Terps took the game, 12-7.
Maryland outshot Penn, 36-13, and the Terps held an 11-10 advantage in ground balls. The Terrapins took 16 draw controls compared to the Quakers' five.
Goalkeeper Alex Fitzpatrick made four saves and picked up one ground ball in the win.
The Terps finish a three-game home stand on Saturday against No. 15 James Madison. Opening draw is scheduled for noon.
