COLLEGE PARK, MD – University of Maryland women's lacrosse coach Cathy Reese has announced the addition of transfer defenders Meghan Ball and Sophie Halus to the roster for the 2024 season. 
 
"Meghan and Sophie are great additions for our 2024 team," said Reese. "Their leadership and experience will help us tremendously this season. Both are great 1v1 defenders with good vision, anticipation and game sense. I'm really excited to have them join our core defenders and help us build our defense for this season." 
 
Ball, a graduate student, comes to Maryland from Rutgers, where she was named the 2023 Big Ten Defender of the Year, the first ever non-Maryland player to win the award. She graduated from Rutgers as the program's all-time leader in caused turnovers (154) and draw controls (308).
 
The New Jersey native is a two-time IWLCA Second Team All-American, a three-time First Team All-Big Ten selection, a 2023 Tewaaraton nominee, a six-time Big Ten Defensive Player if the Week while helping lead Rutgers to their first two NCAA Tournament appearances (2021 & 2022) since 2007. 
 
This past season, Ball led the nation with 60 caused turnovers and stood atop the Big Ten in caused turnovers per game (3.53) and ground balls per game (3.00), finishing second and 12th, respectively, in both categories nationally. She closed out her season third in the conference and 27th in the NCAA with 5.94 draw controls per game and finished with team-highs in draw controls (101), caused turnovers (60) and ground balls (51).
 
Halus, a junior defender, has started all 36 games for Colorado over her first two seasons, totaling 40 groundballs, 32 caused turnovers, one goal and three assists. 
 
This past season, Halus led the Buffaloes with 22 caused turnovers while standing second on the team with 23 groundballs as the team's defensive leader. The North Carolina native helped lead Colorado to a 7-3 record in Pac-12 play including two wins over No. 21 Stanford.
 
Ball and Halus will join a Maryland defense that returns two-time reigning Big Ten Goaltender of the Year Emily Sterling as well as All-Big Ten selection Brianna Lamoureux, Kennedy Major, Clancy Rheude and Aiden Peduzzi.