Making Her Dreams Come True

Tucked away in the Edmondsons’ home in Severn is a purple journal belonging to Kori Edmondson, the family’s youngest daughter. The front of the journal features a “K,” constructed with pink duct tape. 

On the first page of the journal — in bold letters — there are four goals in a checklist format. Three aspirations were to play for M&D Lacrosse club, attend McDonogh School and play lacrosse for head coach Cathy Reese at the University of Maryland. She wrote the goals when she was 7 years old, and by the time she was a junior in high school, she had already committed to Maryland as the No. 1 prospect in the nation for the class of 2022.

Three of her four goals were checked off, but one remained unchecked. Edmondson’s 7-year-old self wrote down the ambitious goal of winning a gold medal in lacrosse as her fourth and final objective.

The opportunity arose over the summer in July, as Edmondson was named to the 2024 United States Women's U20 National Team. She was primed to compete in the World Lacrosse Women’s Championship in Hong Kong with a gold medal on the line.  

“We found it (the journal) before I was heading to Hong Kong,” Edmondson said. “I checked off all of them besides the gold medal part. I got there and was just like, this is what dreams are made of. Watching Jen Adams, Taylor [Cummings], Alex Aust — this is what you have dreamed of your whole life. I'm about to go do this, and I need to be able to soak in every little moment of it.”

Edmondson was among 22 players from the U.S. participating in the tournament, which featured more than 400 players from 20 countries. To add to the pressure of competing on the world stage with teammates she had never met before, Kelly Amonte Hiller — the coach of Team USA who happened to play for Maryland from 1992-96 — asked Edmondson to take on a different role to help the team. 

An attacking midfielder for much of her lacrosse career, Edmondson took on a sizable defensive role. She was hesitant at first but willing to do anything to help her team win. Edmondson didn’t just excel in her role. She dominated, playing a pivotal part in winning gold for Team USA.  

Team USA went 7-0 throughout the tournament and outscored teams 211-20. Edmondson accumulated three goals, two assists, four caused turnovers and 12 ground balls in the tournament and was named to the All-World Team. 

Edmondson could finally cross off the final goal written in her journal. Being named one of the 10 best lacrosse players in the world was a bonus. 

“I remember that moment they called my name,” she said. “I know where my parents are in the stands 'cause I always look for them. I was just stunned. I thought there was no way. Tears started coming out of my eyes. To be able to play a whole different position and be able to hear my name left me speechless. I thought they had the wrong name.”

Edmondson is a two-time All-Big Ten honoree named to the 2025 Tewaaraton Award Watch List. She was a standout as an underclassman on senior-led teams each of the last two seasons. But now, as a junior, Edmondson is a first-year team captain having a career year while leading a midfield of predominantly underclassmen. 

Through 12 games this season, she leads the Terps in points (42), goals (34) and ground balls (23). She also ranks second in draw controls (42) and caused turnovers (12). Making an all-around impact, Edmondson was recently named an Inside Lacrosse Midseason First Team All-American while boasting four Big Ten Midfielder of the Week honors this season. 

“I've watched Kori play since she was in middle school, and her athleticism set her apart from everybody else,” Reese said. “Her passion for the sport, her love of the game, and she just always went so hard. We knew when we were able to recruit her that we were getting a really special player and someone who was going to be one of the all-time greats at Maryland.”

Edmondson’s connection to Maryland runs deep. Her older sister, Logan, played field hockey at Maryland from 2016-19. The sisters had many backyard battles, playing both lacrosse and field hockey. 

The younger Edmondson was an equally talented field hockey player but chose to pursue lacrosse partly because she wanted to create her own legacy in a different sport. This sentiment contributed to her attending McDonogh rather than Archbishop Spalding, where Logan attended High School. 

“She left such a big mark there,” Edmondson said. “I just wanted her legacy to always be there and leave it. … She's the first person I look to in the stands when I get out on the field. She is truly inspiring. I always tell people that she's my role model because she has truly paved the way for me.”

Edmondson was coached by Taylor Cummings at McDonogh. Cummings is a three-time Tewaaraton winner and former Maryland star from 2013-16. Under her leadership, Inside Lacrosse ranked Edmondson the No. 1 nationally ranked recruit in the class of 2022.

She says Cummings profoundly impacted her, as Edmondson responded well to her blunt coaching style.  

“She showed me what it means to be a Maryland women's lacrosse player,” Edmondson said. “She gave me the confidence to be able to step here and do something.”

That confidence was tested early in her freshman year. She scored just four points in her first five games and was still trying to find her place on a veteran team. Looking back, Edmondson admits some of the nerves got to her. She met with coaches during the week before a home game against Denver on March 5, 2023. 

The conversation instilling confidence was all it took. Edmondson recorded her first career hat trick against Denver, sparking a six-game streak of hat tricks. She earned her first start the following game against William & Mary. Edmondson scored four goals, which remains tied for her career-high in a single game. She even finished third on her team in goal-scoring that season. 

The junior has grown tremendously not only as a player but also as a leader from her freshman year. Reese credits her international experience with Team USA as one of the major contributors to that growth. 

“You're learning how to communicate with different people from different backgrounds who've all played different styles in college,” Reese said. “I think that experience has helped her grow as a player. She was an All-World defender, and last year, I moved her to attack, so she's truly an all-around player. Now she’s in the midfield playing as a two-way middie. They're very rare in college lacrosse these days. I think she is one of, if not the best, midfielders in the country at getting it done on both ends.”

Edmondson has been a force for the Terps, and individual successes have followed. Winning a gold medal was one of her ultimate feats, but she still hopes to accomplish similar success of winning a championship with the Terps — one of the few things she’s yet to do.

Edmondson can’t go back in time and write another goal in her journal. But in her mind is sharing that championship feeling with the rest of her teammates.   

“If I could edit one more line in that journal, it definitely would be to win a Big Ten championship and then also a national championship,” Edmondson said.