COLLEGE PARK, Md. – After finishing the regular season with a 17-0 record, including a 5-0 showing in conference play, six members of the No. 1 Maryland women’s lacrosse team earned All-Big Ten honors Wednesday.
Senior midfielder Taylor Cummings, senior defender Alice Mercer, sophomore attacker Megan Whittle, junior midfielder Zoe Stukenberg, junior defender Nadine Hadnagy and freshman goalie Megan Taylor were all unanimously named to the All-Big Ten team. The six players were instrumental in leading the Terps to the Big Ten regular season title.
The 21-person team features 10 players from three separate positions (three attackers, three midfielder, three defenders and one goalkeeper) and 11 more at-large selections. Maryland tied with Penn State for the most players from any team, and the Terps have six of nine unanimously selections.
Maryland has garnered 54 all-conference honorees in head coach Cathy Reese’s 10 seasons.
One of the most decorated players in lacrosse history, Cummings leads the team across the field with 60 points, 51 ground balls, 113 draw controls and caused turnovers. She is also second on the team with 45 goals and 15 assists. In five conference games this season, the Ellicott City, Md., native led Maryland with 16 goals, 10 points, 17 ground balls, 43 draws and 10 caused turnovers. She was named Big Ten Offensive Player and Defensive Player of the Week three times each.
Mercer leads the sixth-ranked Terrapin defense that has allowed just 6.59 goals per game this season. The Woodbine, Md., native has caused 17 turnovers and picked up 26 ground balls this year. Mercer earned Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week honors once this season.
Whittle paces Maryland’s potent offense, which ranks second nationally with 15.29 goals per game. The sophomore leads the team with 56 goals this season, which also leads the Big Ten. Whittle is also second on the team with 58 points.
Stukenberg has compiled 35 goals, 13 assists and 48 points this season, ranking third on the team in each category. The Ellicott City, Md., native has stepped up as a leader in the midfield this season, and also has 21 ground balls, 29 draw controls and 11 caused turnovers. Stukenberg was named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week once this year.
Hadnagy has also stepped up as a leader this season, helping captain the Maryland defense that returned just two starters from last season. The Farmingdale, N.Y., native ranks second on the team with 32 ground balls and 16 caused turnovers. Hadnagy has committed just three turnovers and eight fouls this year and was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week once.
Taylor has stepped into the starting goalie roll as just a freshman and excelled for the Terps. She leads the conference and ranks fourth nationally with a 6.25 goals-against average while also leading the Big Ten with a .474 save percentage. Taylor has been named Big Ten Freshman of the Week twice and Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week once.
Cummings, Mercer, Stukenberg and Whittle were All-Big Ten honorees last season in the first-ever year of lacrosse for the conference.
The top-seeded Terps will take on either No. 4-seed Rutgers or fifth-seeded Ohio State in the Big Ten Tournament semifinals on Friday in Evanston, Ill. Opening draw is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. ET on the Big Ten Network.
All-Big Ten Team*
TAYLOR CUMMINGS, M, Maryland
NADINE HADNAGY, D, Maryland
ALICE MERCER, D, Maryland
ZOE STUKENBERG, M, Maryland
MEGAN TAYLOR, G, Maryland
MEGAN WHITTLE, A, Maryland
Kimberly Coughlan, M, Michigan
Madeline Dion, D, Michigan
KALEIGH CRAIG, A, Northwestern
Selena Lasota, A, Northwestern
Cian Dabrowski, A, Ohio State
Shannon Rosati, D, Ohio State
Christina Turner, D, Ohio State
Madison Carter, A, Penn State
MADISON CYR, M, Penn State
Jenna Mosketti, M, Penn State
Steph Lazo, A, Penn State
Katie O’Donnell, M, Penn State
ABBY SMUCKER, D, Penn State
Amanda Casten, D, Rutgers
Kristina Dunphey, M, Rutgers
Unanimous selections in ALL CAPS
*Additional honorees due to tie
-Maryland-
