COLLEGE PARK, MD — Libby May dropped her stick, clapped her hands and smiled. The Terps' attacker jumped toward
Aurora Cordingley as the No. 8 Maryland women's lacrosse team celebrated in front of a packed crowd at the Field Hockey and Lacrosse Complex.
She had just recorded the sixth of her seven goals — a career high for the junior Sparks native. On the other side of the cage, goalkeeper
Emily Sterling was setting a career high herself with 16 saves.
And by the end of the afternoon, head coach
Cathy Reese's squad was celebrating a share of the Big Ten title once again after a 15-9 thumping of No. 2 Northwestern.
May's seven goals led Maryland's (14-1, 5-0 Big Ten) offense.
Hannah Leubecker and
Grace Griffin also recorded multi-goal games.
Sterling held Northwestern (13-3, 5-1 Big Ten) to its fewest goals since March 6 as the Wildcats snapped a nine-game win streak. Jill Girardi had a hat trick.
B1G Success
- This is Maryland's sixth Big Ten regular season championship, as it is 5-0 in conference play. It won the title in each season from 2015-19.
- It's the Terps' ninth Big Ten championship overall (they took home three tournament championships from 2016-18) and 30th conference championship in total, as they won 21 in the ACC (10 Regular Season, 11 Tournament).
- Maryland can win the title outright with a victory at No. 19 Michigan next Saturday.
Breaking Down The Action
- Hannah Leubecker and Shannon Smith opened the scoring, giving Maryland an early 2-0 advantage in the first five minutes.
- Northwestern kept the game close, clinging to a 4-3 deficit at the end of one. Libby May netted two goals in the first quarter.
- The Terps went on a 4-0 run starting with May's second goal. Victoria Hensh, Kate Sites and Grace Griffin kicked off the second quarter with goals as Maryland jumped out to a 7-3 lead.
- Libby May added two more goals later in the second quarter as Maryland took a 10-5 lead to halftime.
- Maryland's offense kept rolling in the third quarter, with goals from Grace Griffin, Eloise Clevenger and two more from Libby May.
- Northwestern clawed back late in the fourth, scoring a trio to pull to a 15-9 deficit.
Home, Sweet Home
- The crowd of 2,123 is the biggest at the Field Hockey and Lacrosse Complex since 2018. That was a March 24 contest against James Madison that drew 2,361 to The 'Plex.
- Maryland is now 158-5 at home under head coach Cathy Reese.
Up Next
- Maryland travels to Ann Arbor for its regular season finale next Saturday.
- The Terps take on No. 19 Michigan at noon on ESPNU.
- The Big Ten Tournament is from Friday, May 6, to Sunday, May 8, at Rutgers.
