COLLEGE PARK, Md. – Three Terps notched five points each as the top-seeded Maryland women’s lacrosse team (21-0) routed Massachusetts (20-2), 18-3, in the NCAA quarterfinals Sunday afternoon.
Junior midfielder
Zoe Stukenberg set a new career high with five goals while sophomore attacker
Megan Whittle and freshman attacker
Caroline Steele each posted four goals and one assist.
“We knew UMass came in with a lot of success this season, and I think we were able to execute really well today,” head coach
Cathy Reese said. “Our offense was clicking and was able to get a couple early goals to set the tone. On defense, we weren’t allowing a lot of shots and
Megan Taylor made some big saves. We’re excited to move on and play in the Final Four next weekend.”
Taylor made seven saves in goal, picking up her 20
th win of the season. Senior midfielder
Taylor Cummings continued to lead across the field, posting two goals, two assists, six draw controls and three caused turnovers.
The senior class played in their final game in College Park, moving to 44-0 at home in their careers.
Steele started the scoring just one minute into the game with a bounced shot off an assist from
Caroline Wannen. Whittle tallied two straight before assisting on a
Taylor Hensh goal at 24:09.
Bryn Boucher weaved through traffic to score at 22:57 and Whittle completed a hat trick with a free-position goal at 19:11. Wannen found Steele again for a goal and Stukenberg scored at 12:01 as the Terps took an 8-0 lead.
After a Massachusetts goal, Maryland finished the half with five straight. Whittle broke a face guard for her fourth goal at 9:06. Steele scored two before assisting Stukenberg at 1:38. Cummings scored with five seconds left in the half as the Terps took a 13-1 halftime lead.
The Minutewomen got on the board first in the second half. Stukenberg tallied three free-position goals in the half while Giles and Cumming each notched unassisted goals. UMass was able to add one more goal at 5:55, but the Terps closed the game 18-3.
Maryland advances to its eighth-straight Final Four, the longest current streak in Division I.
The Terps held a 30-18 advantage in shots. Maryland went 4-for-5 on free-position shots while holding the Minutewomen to 0-for-2. The Terps also held a 15-7 advantage in draw controls.
Maryland will face fourth-seeded Syracuse in the NCAA semifinals on Friday. The Terps defeated the Orange 14-9 on March 12.
– Maryland –
