COLLEGE PARK, MD – Eight members of the No. 3 seeded Maryland women's lacrosse team earned All-Big Ten recognition, as announced by the conference on Wednesday.
Maryland has three players on the first team and five more on the second team, the most in the conference. The teams consist of 16 selections on each team. The Terps have eight total sections, the highest total of any Big Ten program. Maryland has had at least three First Team selections in every season since they've been in the conference.
Graduate students Meghan Ball and Shaylan Ahearn and senior Eloise Clevenger were each selected to the First Team. Graduate seniors Hannah Leubecker, Libby May and Emily Sterling, alongside sophomores Kori Edmondson and Kennedy Major make up the second team selections.
Maryland has garnered 103 all-conference honorees through head coach Cathy Reese's 18 seasons. This is the fourth time that Ahearn and Ball have earned All-Big Ten distinction, the third time for Leubecker, Sterling and May, the second time for Clevenger and Edmondson and the first time for Major.
Ahearn, the reigning Big Ten Midfielder of the Year, has continued to be one of the best midfielders in the nation this season. She ranks fifth in the Big Ten in draws per game with 4.88. She has tallied seven or more draws in six different games and leads Maryland to a 61.2-percent win rate of all draw controls, the eighth-best mark in the country and best in the Big Ten. In addition to her success in the center circle, Ahearn also has five goals, five ground balls and one caused turnover.
Ball is the leader of the Maryland defense, which has held 11 of 16 opponents under 10 goals this season. The Raritan, New Jersey native, leads the team with 31 ground balls and 30 caused turnovers, standing third in the Big Ten in caused turnovers per game (1.88) and eighth in ground balls per game (1.94). Ball has had five games this season of at least three ground balls, four games of at least three caused turnovers and has been a pivotal part on the draw circle, standing second on the team and eighth in the Big Ten with 61 draw controls. Ball was named a Tewaaraton Nominee for her stellar performance in the regular season.
Clevenger has been the facilitator of the Maryland attack, leading the team in both points (70) and assists (47), while leading the Big Ten and ranking eighth in the nation in assists per game with 2.94. Clevenger has led Maryland in points in 10 different games highlighted by her seven against Saint Joseph's and Florida. The senior averages nearly five points through 16 games. In conference play alone, she leads the league with 14 assists and stands sixth with 22 points.
Edmondson has continued her strong start from her freshman season into her second year. She ranks second on the team in goals with 29, while also picking up 10 ground balls, six draw controls and six man-up goals. Edmondson has had five hat tricks and 10 multi-goal games through 16 contests. The sophomore scored 11 consecutive games to start the season. This is Edmondson's second Second Team All-Big Ten Selection.
Leubecker leads the Terps in goals with 45 and owns the second highest point total at 50, earning the third 50-point season of her career. The Forest Hill, Maryland native, has tallied eight games with three or more goals, capped by a six-goal performance against Rutgers in the conference opener. Leubecker leads the offense in free-position goals with 13. She owns the fifth most goals-scored in the Big Ten and averages 3.50 points per game in conference play. Leubecker scored in all 16 games of the regular season with 14 multi-point performances.
Major earns her first All-Big Ten recognition after a standout sophomore regular season. The Hampstead, Maryland native has started in all 16 contests for the Terps and has been a consistent defender on a Maryland defense that averages only 8.81 goals per game. Major has tallied 15 ground balls and 12 caused turnovers, including a career-high four caused turnovers against James Madison.
May continues to be an offensive weapon in her final season at Maryland. The graduate senior has tallied 26 goals and six assists on attack. She has tallied nine multi-goal games, including a season-high four goals against James Madison. In addition to her offensive skill set, May has grabbed 14 ground balls and 19 draw controls for the Terps, contributing to the 61-2 percent draw win rate. May earns the third-highest point total with 32 and has tallied at least one point in all 16 games. She was named Offensive Player of the Week by the Big Ten earlier this year.
Sterling, the 2022 and 2023 Big Ten Goalkeeper of the Year, has been outstanding as the last line of defense for the Terps through 16 games. She has tallied 150 saves allowing only 136. She owns the third-best save percentage in the country of .524. Sterling ranks second in the conference in saves per game with 9.38. The Bel Air, Maryland native, has posted seven games with at least 10 saves and has held opponents under ten goals, an impressive 11 times. Sterling is the backbone of the 'Defender U', Maryland defense that owns the second best scoring defense in the conference, allowing only 8.81 goals per game. Sterling was named a Tewaaraton Nominee following her strong 2024 campaign.
Julia Hammerschlag was named Maryland's sportsmanship honoree. The sportsmanship award is awarded to individuals who have distinguished themselves through sportsmanship and ethical behavior. These student-athletes must also be in good academic standing and have demonstrated good citizenship outside of the sports-competition setting.
Since Big Ten lacrosse began back in 2015, Maryland has had 62 All-Big Ten selections, the most in the conference.
The Attacker, Midfielder, Defender and Goaltender of the Year, along with the Freshman and Coach of the Year, will be announced following the conclusion of the Big Ten Tournament.
The No. 3 seeded Terps open up the postseason this Saturday, April 27 with the Big Ten Tournament Quarterfinals against No. 6 Rutgers at 4:00 p.m. at the Field Hockey and Lacrosse Complex. With a win, the Terps will advance to the Big Ten Semifinals which will take place next Thursday, May 2 at Northwestern.
