B1G Champs! Terps Finish Regular Season Undefeated
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Fighting back from a second-half deficit, the No. 1 Maryland women’s lacrosse team (17-0, 5-0 B1G) ran past No 13 Penn State (11-5, 3-2), 10-9, Thursday evening. With the win, the Terps captured the Big Ten regular season championship outright.
“Penn State came out and battled for the whole game,” head coach Cathy Reese said. “I think we played sloppy at times, but this group has been great at fighting and not giving up all season. Our seniors did a great job leading us at the end. We have a lot to be excited for with the end of the regular season, but now we’re looking ahead.”
Freshman attacker Caroline Steele led the Terps offensively with three goals while senior midfielder Taylor Cummings and sophomore attacker Taylor Hensh notched two goals and one assist. Cummings also posted nine draw controls, four ground balls and two caused turnovers.
After trading possessions for the first six minutes, Cummings scored first at 23:48. Steele scored twice in 25 seconds as the Terps took a 3-0 lead at 18:40. Penn State scored twice to pull within one before Hensh and Cummings used goals to take a 5-2 lead.
The Nittany Lions closed the half with three of the last four goals as Maryland held on to a 6-5 lead at halftime.
Junior midfielder Zoe Stukenberg scored less than two minutes into the second half before Penn State rattled off three straight to take an 8-7 lead at 10:27. The Terps continued pressing, but PSU goalie Emi Smith made numerous saves to keep Maryland at bay.
Hensh was able to tie the game off an assist from Cummings at 6:45. Wannen circled the crease and scored at 4:06 to five Maryland a 9-8 lead and freshman midfielder Jen Giles put the Terps up by two at 3:07. Penn State pulled within one at 1:34, but Maryland was able to hold onto the ball and take the 10-9 win.
Freshman goalie Megan Taylor made six saves and scooped up two ground balls.
Maryland completed the regular season undefeated for the ninth time in program history and the second-straight year. With the win, Reese picked up her 200th win as the head coach of the Terps.
The Terps will be the No. 1 seed in the Big Ten Tournament, which will take place next Thursday, May 5-Sunday, May 8 in Evanston, Ill.
– Maryland –
