COLLEGE PARK, Md. – Junior Zoe Stukenberg and sophomore Megan Whittle each scored four goals as the No. 1 Maryland women’s lacrosse team (4-0) defeated Hofstra (0-4), 20-5, Saturday afternoon at the Field Hockey & Lacrosse Complex.
“Today I thought we did a really good job taking advantage of the opportunities we had,” head coach Cathy Reese said. “We were taking good shots or not shooting if we didn’t have a good look at the cage. Offensively and with our transition defense, we saw a lot from everyone on the team today. We had a good game overall and a lot of people contributed.”
Senior Taylor Cummings and sophomore Kacie Longo each tallied hat tricks while freshman Jen Giles added two goals. Freshman Caroline Steele, sophomore Taylor Hensh, junior Theo Kwas and freshman Marissa Donoghue each scored once.
The Terps started the game on a 12-0 run, started with four straight 8-meter goals. Cummings caused a turnover and Whittle scored on a breakaway at 26:15. Stukenberg completed a hat trick less than five minutes into the game at 25:12.
After Giles tallied a free-position goal at 21:51, she fed Whittle for a goal at 20:44. Cummings scored her second goal at 20:17 and Whittle finished a hat trick at 16:46 to put Maryland ahead, 10-0.
Longo scored the next two goals, including one off a backdoor pass from senior Bryn Boucher. Hofstra got on the scoreboard at 5:12 and the Terps took a 12-1 lead into halftime.
Cummings started the second half scoring after winning a draw control and breaking away to score at 29:38. Steele added a goal at 28:16. After having a shot saved, Whittle caused a goalie turnover and scored her fourth goal at 26:40. Stukenberg added her fourth goal at 25:09.
After the Pride scored another goal, Donoghue caused a turnover and scored her first career goal at 20:03 as the Terps led, 17-2.
Giles scored on a free position and Kwas finished the Maryland scoring while Hofstra added a pair of goals and the Terps took the 20-5 win.
Cummings and Whittle each notched two caused turnovers and two ground balls while Cummings also picked up six draw controls.
All three goalies saw playing time. Freshman Megan Taylor got the start and made two saves while allowing just one goal in the first half. Junior Emily Kift started the second half and notched one caused turnover and one ground ball. Sophomore Emma Moss made two saves and one ground ball.
The Terrapins converted 8-of-11 free position shots, including seven in the first half. Maryland held an 18-12 advantage in ground balls and a 17-10 advantage in draw controls.
This is Maryland’s first time reaching the 20-goal threshold since a 22-12 win over Virginia Tech on April 19, 2014.
Hofstra’s Lindsay Scott scored four of the Pride’s five goals.
The Terps face a tough battle next as they travel to No. 2 Syracuse (6-1) next Saturday, March 12. The teams will face off at noon on ESPN3 in the Carrier Dome.
– Maryland –
