COLLEGE PARK, MD – JJ Suriano was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week and the IWLCA Defensive Player of the Week, as announced Tuesday by both organizations.
The junior goalkeeper opened the season with a standout performance against No. 13 Syracuse, posting a .762 save percentage in the Terps' road victory. Suriano held the Orange scoreless in the first quarter and recorded 16 saves on 21 shots faced, allowing just five goals in the win.
Last season, Suriano started all 21 games last season in her first year in the cage. She was named to the 2025 All-Big Ten Tournament Team and earned 2025 Inside Lacrosse All-American Honorable Mention honors. Suriano posted a 9.61 goals-against average and recorded 180 saves on the season.
She led the Terps to the Big Ten Championship game with some of the best performances of her career. In the championship game, Suriano turned in a career outing with 18 saves in a narrow 8–7 loss to Northwestern. The 18 saves tied a Big Ten Tournament record and marked the most by a Terp in a single game since Megan Taylor recorded 20 against Florida in 2017.
Earlier in the tournament, Suriano matched her previous career high with 13 saves in the semifinal win over Michigan. Across three Big Ten Tournament games, she totaled 37 saves (12.3 per game), allowed just 9.7 goals per game, and posted a 56.1 save percentage, earning her All-Big Ten Tournament Team honors.
The Terps will face off against No. 12Â Virginia in their home opener at 12 p.m. on Saturday.Â
