COLLEGE PARK, Md. – After compiling a 17-0 regular-season record, including a 5-0 showing in conference play, eight members of the No. 1 Maryland women’s lacrosse team earned All-Big Ten honors Wednesday.
Brooke Griffin, Taylor Cummings, Zoe Stukenberg, Megan Douty, Alice Mercer, Alex Fitzpatrick, Megan Whittle and Casey Pepperman were named to the All-Big Ten team. Griffin, Cummings, Douty, Mercer and Pepperman were all unanimously selected to the team.
The 20-person team features 10 players from three separate positions (three attackers, three midfielders, three defenders and one goalkeeper) and 10 more at-large selections. The eight Terrapins are the most players from any program featured.
The eight Terrapins are the most picked to an all-conference team in a season under head coach Cathy Reese. Maryland has garnered 48 all-conference honors in Reese’s nine seasons.
Griffin leads Maryland’s offense, which ranked seventh in the nation with 14.41 goals per game. Griffin is third on the team with 35 goals and seconds with 18 assists. This is the senior attacker’s third straight all-conference honors.
Cummings leads the team with 28 assists, 81 points, 37 ground balls, 121 draw controls and 30 caused turnovers. The junior midfielder ranks seconds nationally in points per game and fifth in the nation in goals per game. Cummings has been named to all-conference teams in each of her three seasons at Maryland. She was named the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week five times and earned Defensive Player of the Week honors once.
Stukenberg has compiled 32 goals and 14 assists this season and ranks fourth with 48 points on the team. The sophomore midfielder closed the regular season with three straight multi-goal games, including a hat trick against Penn State. Stukenberg earned Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week honors once.
Douty leads the eighth-ranked Terrapin defense that has allowed just 7.06 goals per game. The senior defender has caused 19 turnovers and picked up 23 ground balls this season. Douty was a two-time Big Ten Defender of the Week this season.
Mercer has been one of Maryland’s top defenders this season. The junior has 14 ground balls, 10 draw controls and 11 caused turnovers this year.
Fitzpatrick has excelled for the Terps in goal as a graduate student transfer. She holds a 6.68 goals-against average and a .481 save percentage. Fitzpatrick was a three-time Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week.
Whittle leads the Terps with 56 goals on the season. The freshman attacker has earned Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors six times.
Pepperman has played a key role for Maryland on defense this season. The senior has 20 ground balls and 28 draw controls. Pepperman was also recognized as Maryland’s Sportsmanship Award recipient.
The top-seeded Terps will take on either No. 4 seed Ohio State or fifth-seeded Rutgers in the Big Ten Tournament semifinals Friday. Opening draw is scheduled for approximately 8 p.m. in Piscataway, N.J.
All-Big Ten TeamTaylor Cummings, M, MarylandMegan Douty, D, MarylandAlex Fitzpatrick, G, Maryland
Brooke Griffin, A, MarylandAlice Mercer, D, MarylandCasey Pepperman, D, MarylandZoe Stukenberg, M, Maryland
Megan Whittle, A, Maryland
Selena Lasota, A, NorthwesternSheila Nesselbush, M, Northwestern
Katie Chase, A, Ohio State
Jackie Cifarelli, A, Ohio State
Taylor Donahue, D, Ohio State
Jennifer Porretto, M, Ohio State
Tatum Coffey, M, Penn StateMadison Cyr, M, Penn State
Maggie McCormick, A, Penn StateEmi Smith, G, Penn State
Abby Smucker, D, Penn StateLauren Sbrilli, M, Rutgers
Unanimous selections in
italics Sportsmanship Award HonoreesCasey Pepperman, Sr., Maryland
Sophie duPhily, So., Michigan
Brooke Jones, Sr., Northwestern
Mary Kate Facchina, Sr., Ohio State
Maggie McCormick, Sr., Penn State
Melissa Arthur, Sr., Rutgers
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