Jordyn Lipkin’s Breakout Season Powers Maryland Women’s Lacrosse Toward NCAA Title Run

The Lipkin twins’ friendly childhood rivalry reached new heights during Maryland and Penn State’s regular-season women’s lacrosse meeting on March 13.  

Jordyn Lipkin — a senior midfielder for the Terps — found herself matched up against her twin sister, Ally Lipkin — a senior attacker for the Nittany Lions. It was a renewed rivalry that Jordan looked forward to. 

“[Growing up,] it was a lot more fun, practicing, getting better and training with a twin,” Jordyn said. “There was always a little bit of smack talk with each other, but playing against her again was great. It’s always extra competitive playing against her.”

Jordyn and the Terps came out on the winning end of the twins’ anticipated matchup. Maryland soundly defeated Penn State, 19-11. Jordyn led the Terps with a career-high four goals and an assist. But more impressively, her performance served as the beginning of a breakout season. 

Lipkin went on to score five more hat tricks and match her career-high of four goals twice. Through 19 games, she ranks second on Maryland’s roster with 37 goals. The total exceeds her combined scoring output through her first three seasons. 

The senior team captain has played an enormous role on a Maryland team contending for its 15th NCAA title. Lipkin’s rise as a leader for the Terps was met with challenges. Head coach Cathy Reese, as well as teammates, admire her commitment and selflessness. 

“They see value in her, and they see her leadership,” Reese said. “They see her passion for the sport and her love for Maryland. They see her caring for her teammates and looking out for everybody else. She's a real selfless person and will always put the team first.”

A native of Short Hills, New Jersey, Lipkin committed to Maryland as the nationally ranked No. 17 recruit in the class of 2021. She showcased her abilities as a two-way, all-around midfielder at Millburn High School, accumulating 232 goals, 74 assists, 252 ground balls, 439 draw controls and 94 caused turnovers despite her junior year being cancelled and senior campaign shortened due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Lipkin’s potential flashed early during her freshman year at Maryland. She significantly contributed to the Terps’ Big Ten championship-winning and NCAA Final Four team in 2022. Racking up 20 goals, nine assists, 15 ground balls, seven caused turnovers and 11 draw controls, Lipkin earned a Big Ten Midfielder of the Week and two Freshman of the Week honors. 

“We had her playing in the midfield a little bit, and then she transitioned more into an attacker,” Reese said. “I thought she was a really good shooter. She had good field sense, good vision and filled some holes where we needed it. She was really versatile and adaptable, and went with the flow. Wherever she was needed, she was ready.”

After posting her first career hat trick in her NCAA Tournament debut on May 15, 2022, and scoring in each of Maryland’s three NCAA Tournament games, it became clear Lipkin was poised for a sophomore breakout. 

However, Lipkin didn’t make the anticipated statistical jump the following season. Her stats regressed in every category. Although influenced by the Terps’ primary feeder, Aurora Cordingley, graduating in the offseason, Lipkin admits she didn’t perform to the best of her abilities. 

“I definitely don't think I was playing as well as I could have been,” Lipkin said. “I definitely was not performing how I was the year before, and how I knew I could. I think those are the moments you learn the most about yourself as a player. It's always hard when you know you have more potential than you're showing, but it’s about learning from it and not giving up. I continued to practice, get better and trust the process.”

Lipkin continued to work and quickly put the year behind her, but she was unaware of the challenges she was yet to face in 2024. The then-junior played in just one game once the regular season rolled around — Maryland’s season opener against Saint Joseph's — before going down with a season-ending injury. 

In a midweek practice, Lipkin injured her foot. She still made the team’s trip to Syracuse the following week, unaware of her injury's severity. But a later X-ray revealed a Jones fracture, forcing her to undergo surgery. 

Reese remembers her conversation with Lipkin before her injury was officially diagnosed. The coach reassured her that she would come back stronger. It was just up to Lipkin being willing to learn and continue trusting the process.    

“We were up in Syracuse, and I said, ‘Listen, if we're out for the year, it’s giving us a year of an opportunity to learn and to get better watching from the sidelines,’” Reese said. “I think there's a lot you can take advantage of in terms of learning from your teammates and what is happening on the field.”

Lipkin used a medical redshirt as she went through her rehab. She also bought into the mindset of her Hall of Fame coach. 

“It's definitely very hard not being able to play, and it gives another perspective that you never would have unless you're hurt,” Lipkin said. “At the end of the day, I think I needed that. I say everything happens for a reason. I think that injury happened at that time to give me a perspective that I needed, and teach me hard lessons that I needed to know to get me to where I am now.”

Lipkin was cleared just in time for the 2024 Women’s European Lacrosse Championship in Portugal last summer. She had planned to participate in the tournament with Team Israel ahead of the season. 

She and Team Israel made it to the title game before winning a silver medal. With its run, Israel also secured a spot in the 2026 World Lacrosse Women’s Championship. Lipkin tied for the most points (30) in the tournament that featured 19 different countries. In seven games, she recorded 17 goals and 13 assists. 

Lipkin says participating in the tournament helped her recover while allowing her to progress as a leader through exposure to new teammates. Reese pointed out the latter as her most significant area of growth. 

“We're seeing her step on the field as a leader,” Reese said. “I think her growth has been seen in that way, more so than any other way.”

Despite the ups and downs, Lipkin reflects on her experiences and credits them as drivers to getting her where she is now — ready to continue making her mark in NCAA Tournament play.  

“I wouldn't take anything back,” Lipkin said. “I put in a lot of hard work to get back. … There are so many ups and downs to playing a collegiate sport. But you stay with the process, stick with it, trust your preparation and the hard work you put in. It shows that it's worth it at the end of the day.”