A Silver Lining: How Kristen Shanahan Has Battled Through Adversity To Become Top Weapon For Maryland Women’s Lacrosse

Maryland women’s lacrosse starts its playoff push in the Big Ten Tournament on Wednesday, and the Terps are ready for the grind to eternal glory. 

One graduate senior — attacker Kristen Shanahan — has been the epitome of battle-tested. After fighting through injuries and thriving through it all, she’s ready to leave everything out on the field for her Terps. 

During her five years at Notre Dame, success and injury went head-to-head, battling to define her career. She scored 53 goals and tallied 19 assists, but two ACL tears, a fractured hip, and a torn labrum kept her off the field more than she was on it.

Separated from the game she loved, she found a perspective that she brought with her for her lone year at Maryland. She’s taking advantage of every positive moment she can and focusing on the highs she gets to experience in College Park. 

“I’ve learned that through injuries and life, you truly can't take anything for granted,” Shanahan said. “It’s made me more resilient and a strong leader, and it's something that I'll carry with me beyond lacrosse. I've had three surgeries and lots of bumps and bruises in the past six years, so making every practice and game mean a little bit more as I wrap up my career.”

After five seasons at Notre Dame, Shanahan went on the hunt for a place to play her final season and pursue her master's degree in management. After a short phone call with head coach Cathy Reese, she knew she’d find success in College Park.

“Maryland is obviously a program that's decorated in national championships, Big Ten championships, and is always competing to be the best,” Shanahan said. “When I got on the phone with Cathy, hearing her talk about her belief in the program and her belief in where she wants the team of 2026 to end up, it really got me motivated. Just from talking to her, I knew from the second I answered the phone I wanted to be able to play for a coach like her.”

Shanahan is the team’s assist leader and ranks second in total points. She’s contributed to 59 of Maryland’s 215 goals so far this season, including seven-point performances against both Virginia and James Madison.

“It all honestly has to do with the people who I'm surrounded by, especially the attackers and midfielders on the offensive side,” Shanahan said. “All the girls here, we have such a great relationship from the defense all the way through the attacking side. We’ve blended really well together and have a really good relationship, both on and off the field. Playing with them and still learning and growing each and every day on and off the field has been the best thing.”

Whenever the Terps find the back of the net, the mob scene on the field consists of everyone wearing the Maryland uniform. It’s as selfless a team as there is, captained by senior leadership like Shanahan possesses.

“No matter who scores and no matter who assists, the whole team scores,” Shanahan said. “It's so exciting. It's honestly the best feeling, because you have the whole bench cheering for every goal. Coming into the postseason, every goal is gigantic, so that support is going to be super important.”

While her team has changed, the support she receives from her family has been constant. Through her ups and downs, a family bonded by a love of sports has had her back and pushed her to be the best version of herself, on and off the field.

“My parents have been my biggest supporters,” Shanahan said. “They travel to every game, and they have for the past six years. Whether I'm injured or playing, it’s been the highlight of my career to be able to see them on the sideline at every game.”

Shanahan is the latest in a lineage of athletes. Her dad played football and lacrosse, while her mom was a swimmer. Her uncle and older sister played lacrosse at Hofstra — her uncle won the first men’s Tewaaraton Award in 2001 — and her brother played for Portland.

“Being in a family where I was pretty much born with a stick in my hand has been special,” Shanahan said. “When I found out I had this last year, my family told me I have to go for it and keep playing because I love the game so much. As much as I love the game, my family loves it even more, because it's brought them so much joy in their life, and we’ve all met so many great people and families.”

Her sister suffered a torn ACL in her freshman year of college. At the time, Shanahan didn’t really understand the severity of the situation or the time she'd have to miss and the work required to play the sport she loves. But when Shanahan suffered the same fate with her first ACL tear, she knew right where to turn.

“She was my rock and support system when I came back because she got it,” Shanahan said. “She knew exactly how I was feeling mentally, emotionally, and physically. Leaning on her, and being able to text and call her with the good and the bad updates really did help me both on and off the field.”

The recovery process from a torn ACL is a slow one, especially the second time around. The days of watching from the sidelines add up, and the task of getting back on the field can feel daunting or insurmountable. Shanahan found comfort in her support staff of family, friends and teammates. She learned to take each day as they came and only focus on the controllable. 

“In the moment, it's beyond frustrating,” Shanahan said. “It's an injury that unfortunately happens to a lot of athletes, but God has a plan for you at the end of the day and this was his plan for me. I kept saying to other players that were injured that somehow it’ll all work out. It’s crazy, if I didn't get injured the second time, I would have never been in this position fighting for a national championship with Maryland across my chest.”

She leaned hard on her faith as she fought off the injury bug that couldn’t seem to leave her alone. At Notre Dame, she had plenty of resources to grow her Christian faith as a tight relationship became a pillar of her recovery. 

“It was easy for me when I was at Notre Dame, because we had a team chaplain, FJ,” Shanahan said. “He guided me through everything when times were tough and when I was starting to lose faith in myself. Having him to be able to go when times are hard and have him pray for me helped a lot. I still to this day text him when times get tough. He's the most faithful person that I can have in my present life. He really did keep the faith in me along the process.”

Her journey — shaped by injuries, strengthened by family, and grounded in faith — has all led to this final stretch in College Park. With her career nearing its close, Shanahan has embraced everything being a Terp entails while gaining lifelong friendships she’ll carry with her long after her college tenure closes.

“Once a Terp, always a Terp,” Shanahan said. “It's been only one year, but I love the Terps, and I love what the Terp family has given me: some best friends that I'll have for the rest of my life. This truly is my silver lining after everything that happened — being here and meeting so many people that I would never have met ever and I’m so happy that I did.”