#1 Terps Set for Showdown at #3 Syracuse

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The No. 1 Maryland women's lacrosse team (4-0) faces a tough battle as the Terps travel to No. 3 Syracuse (6-1) Saturday at noon.

Saturday's game will be broadcast on ESPN3. Live stats are available here.
In-game updates will also be provided on Maryland's Twitter account (@marylandwlax).

last time out

Junior Zoe Stukenberg and sophomore Megan Whittle each scored four goals as the Terps defeated Hofstra, 20-5, last Saturday.
The Terrapins converted 8-of-11 free position shots, including seven in the first half. Maryland held an 18-12 advantage in ground balls and a 17-10 advantage in draw controls.
This is Maryland's first time reaching the 20-goal threshold since a 22-12 win over Virginia Tech on April 19, 2014.

terrapin-ORANGE history

Maryland is 18-1 all-time vs. Syracuse. The Terps are on a seven-game win streak vs. the Orange with the only loss in the series coming on March 10, 2012.
The teams have played five times in the last two season, including two meetings last year. Maryland defeated Syracuse 10-7 in the regular season and 10-8 in the NCAA Semifinals.

Scouting the syracuse orange

All-American attacker Kayla Traenor leads the Orange with 18 goals, 12 assists, 30 points and 72 draw controls. Halle Majorana and Riley Donahue both have 14 goals on the season.
Goalie Allie Murray holds a 7.47 goals-against average and a .377 save percentage.
After falling in overtime to then-No. 3 Florida last week, Syracuse defeated No. 7 Virginia, 14-8, last Saturday.

giles named b1g freshman of the week

Freshman midfielder Jen Giles was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week on Tuesday.
Giles scored twice and added an assist in the Terps' 20-5 win over Hofstra last Saturday. The Ellicott City, Md., native also picked up three ground balls and one draw control. Both of Giles' goals came on free positions. This is her first career multi-goal game.
Giles is the third Terp to earn Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors this season.

both sides of the ball

The Terps are among the nation's best on both sides of the ball. Maryland leads the Big Ten and ranks 10th for scoring defense, allowing just 6.75 goals per game.
On offense, the Terps also lead the conference and rank second in the NCAA, averaging 16.25 goals per game. Maryland also has the third-best scoring margin the nation, holding a 9.50 score differential.
Maryland's strong play on both sides of the field starts with the draw, where the team ranks 11th nationally with 14.75 draw controls per game.

protect this house

Maryland is 98-2 in College Park under head coach Cathy Reese. The Terps have won all seven games in which they have played an opponent ranked No. 1 or 2 at home in the past seven seasons.
Maryland is currently on a 44-game win streak at the Field Hockey & Lacrosse Complex and hasn't lost in College Park since March 10, 2012.
The Terrapins are 236-16 in College Park, dating back to 1990.

terps announce 2016 broadcast schedule

The Maryland women's lacrosse team will have games featured on the Big Ten Network at least three times this season and will star in BTN's B1G Close Up.
The Terps will be featured with Northwestern on B1G Close Up, BTN's 60-minute, all-access special debuting on April 7 at 9 p.m. BTN's cameras will go behind-the-scenes with each program for 72 hours as they prepare for the highly-anticipated Northwestern at Maryland lacrosse game on Thursday, March 31.
All of Maryland's home games will be live streamed on BTN Plus.
Three of Maryland's regular season games will be broadcast on the Big Ten Network, including Northwestern (March 31), Virginia (April 20) and at Penn State (April 28). The Big Ten Network will also air the entirety of the 2016 Big Ten Women's Lacrosse Tournament.

four terps named to tewaaraton watch list

Four members of the women's lacrosse team were named the Tewaaraton Watch List Tuesday.
Senior midfielder Taylor Cummings, the 2014 and 2015 recipient of the prestigious award, highlights the watch list. Sophomore Megan Whittle and senior defender Alice Mercer, who were named to the list last season, and junior midfielder Zoe Stukenberg were also selected.
The Terps have the most representatives of any program on the list.

terps picked to top big ten

Maryland was unanimously chosen to win the Big Ten Championship in the conference coaches' preseason poll.
Seniors Taylor Cummings and Alice Mercer and sophomore Megan Whittle were selected as Maryland's Players to Watch in 2016. All three were named preseason First Team All-Americans by Inside Lacrosse.
The 2016 Big Ten Tournament will be hosted by Northwestern from May 5-8.

maryland captures 13th national title

Maryland overcame the biggest halftime upset in championship history to capture the Terps' 13th national championship and second consecutive title in 2015 over North Carolina, 9-8.
Midfielder Taylor Cummings was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player after posting five goals, six assists, 12 draw controls and two caused turnovers in the Final Four.
Cummings, Megan Whittle, Kelly McPartland and Megan Douty were named to the all-tournament team.

cummings returns for senior season

Standout midfielder Taylor Cummings, already one of the most decorated lacrosse athletes of all time, will lead the Terps in 2016.
Cummings became the youngest two-time female recipient of the Tewaaraton Award after leading Maryland to the national title in 2015. She also repeated as the Honda Award winner.
The Ellicott City, Md., native posted her best season in 2015, leading Maryland in assists (37), points (100), ground balls (41), draw controls (143) and caused turnovers (36), all of which were personal bests.
Also a member of the U.S. Women's National Team, Cummings was named Big Ten Female Athlete of the Year and became a three-time IWLCA First Team All-American in 2015.

five terps named preseason all-americans

IWLCA All-Americans Taylor Cummings, Alice Mercer and Megan Whittle were named preseason First Team All-Americans by Inside Lacrosse.
The Terps have the most players of any program on the first team. Nadine Hadnagy and Zoe Stukenberg were named to the preseason second team.
All players honored by Inside Lacrosse are Maryland's returning starters in 2016.

freshman class ranked no. 2

Maryland announced the addition of 10 athletes to the program, bringing in the second-ranked class by Inside Lacrosse.
Seven new Terps were named among the magazine's Top 50 Freshmen rankings, led by No. 15 Jen Giles, No. 16 Caroline Steele and No. 20 Shelby Mercer. All seven were also Under Armour All-Americans.
Steele was named the MVP of the UA All-American game.

maryland votes 2016 captains

The Maryland women's lacrosse team selected seniors Taylor Cummings and Alice Mercer and juniors Nadine Hadnagy and Zoe Stukenberg as the captains for 2016.
All four captains have started since joining the Terps as freshmen and were named Inside Lacrosse Preseason All-Americans for this season.