Terps Named B1G Preseason Favorites
2/1/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Lacrosse
ROSEMONT, Ill. – The No. 1-ranked Maryland women's lacrosse team was unanimously selected to win the Big Ten Championship in coaches' preseason poll, as announced by the conference Monday.
The Terps won the inaugural Big Ten Championship last season after posting a 5-0 record in conference play. Following Maryland is Penn State (2), Northwestern (3), Ohio State (4) and Michigan (T-5) and Rutgers (T-5).
Senior midfielder Taylor Cummings, senior defender Alice Mercer and sophomore attacker Megan Whittle were named the Big Ten's Players to Watch. Cummings is the reigning two-time Tewaaraton Award recipient while Mercer is a two-time All-American who will anchor Maryland's defense this season. Whittle led the team in goals in 2015 as just a freshman.
Earlier on Monday, the Terps were ranked No. 1 in both the preseason media and IWLCA coaches' polls.
Maryland opens the season against William & Mary on February 13 at noon at the Field Hockey & Lacrosse Complex in College Park. Tickets are available here.
The 2016 Big Ten Women's Lacrosse Tournament will be hosted by Northwestern from May 5-8. The tournament will include all six conference programs, with two quarterfinal matches on Thursday. The top two seeds will receive byes to Friday's semifinals, followed by the championship match on Sunday.
Big Ten women's lacrosse features teams that have won 25 national championships and 21 of the 34 NCAA Championships, including 10 of the last 11. Maryland won its 13th national championship last year, and claimed seven straight from 1995 to 2001.
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