No. 6-seed Maryland masked some of its turnover problems in recent games with stout defense, but a season-high 24 giveaways allowed Penn to defeat Maryland for the second time this season.

“It’s a disappointment,” coach Cathy Reese said. “We want to be competing in a Final Four every year … and we fell short of that goal this season.”

Reese said on March 26 that she wanted her team to stay under 10 turnovers. Maryland did that just five times in 21 games. Two of those games came within Maryland’s last four contests before the Big Ten finals, but the Terps reverted back to their high-turnover tendency.

The Terps’ turnover struggles against Northwestern in the Big Ten championship primarily manifested in the third quarter. Instead of sitting back, Northwestern increased its defensive pressure by sending double teams and stick-checking the Terps from the back.

The adjustment minimized Maryland’s offense, limiting the Terps to 12 second-half shots while they committed eight turnovers.

[Late collapse ends Maryland women’s lacrosse’s season, falls 11-10 to Penn in NCAA tourney]

Despite a near-two week gap between the Big Ten championship and the first round of the NCAA tournament, Maryland’s turnover problems persisted.

With four minutes and 45 seconds left in the opening quarter against Fairfield on Friday, freshman attacker Shelby Sullivan attempted to break toward goal upon receiving a pass from fellow attacker Chrissy Thomas. But senior midfielder Haley Burns dislodged the ball from Sullivan’s stick.

While Sullivan quickly regained possession, Reese screamed from Maryland’s sideline to “stop getting back checked.”

The Terps previously played the Quakers in late March and committed 13 turnovers. The Terps committed a season-high 24 on Sunday.

Maryland’s woes mostly came in the third and fourth quarters when Penn ramped up its defensive intensity. The Terps notched 14 turnovers in that span, surpassing Penn’s total for the game.

The Quakers relentlessly checked Maryland’s offensive unit and utilized more double teams that attacked the Terps from the front and back. Northwestern made the same adjustment against Maryland in the Big Ten finals — the Terps scored just twice in that game’s second half.

[Shea Keethler used his ‘never-ending engine’ to overcome adversity, thrive at Maryland]

“We just got back checked today all over the field,” Reese said. “When [Penn] stepped up their pressure, we just didn’t handle it well. We ran into double teams, and they ended up causing turnovers all over the field.”

But Penn didn’t force Maryland’s most costly turnover on Sunday. Junior Terps defender Neve O’Ferrall appeared to produce a game-winning defensive stand with eight seconds left, but flung an errant pass toward senior defender Sophie Halus.

Senior Penn midfielder Gracie Smith picked up the ground ball and quickly passed it to senior attacker Erika Chung, who scored with two seconds left to tie the game. Penn scored again in double overtime, preventing the Terps from reaching the quarterfinals for the second time in three years.

“That’s not like us,” Reese said. “That’s not a normal turnover that our defense has.”

Maryland women’s lacrosse hadn’t played in an overtime game this year. But in the Terps’ biggest contest of the season, Penn got its elusive extra period win.

Backed by Catherine Berkery’s overtime winner, Penn (12-6) edged past No. 6-seeded Maryland 11-10 on Sunday at the Maryland Field Hockey and Lacrosse Complex. It is the Terps’ second loss this season against the Quakers and marks consecutive years that they have lost in College Park in the NCAA tournament.

“It’s a heartbreaker,” Maryland coach Cathy Reese said. “For Penn to even … cause a turnover in the last couple seconds of the game and score to send it to overtime, you know, shows the kind of battle this game was.”

[Maryland women’s lacrosse advances past Fairfield in first round of the NCAA tourney, 16-7]

Maryland (15-6) committed 17 turnovers against Fairfield in its prior game. Those struggles carried over against Penn’s No.18-ranked scoring defense, as the Terps committed a season-high 24 turnovers.

“Our game plan was just to have some more pressure get on their hands,” Penn defender Natasha Gorriaran said. “Last time, we kind of ended up sinking back a little more, and this time, it was a really big focus to get up and pressure out.”

Maryland’s 22nd turnover proved to be the most costly one. After defender Neve O’Ferrall forced a turnover with eight seconds remaining and a one-goal lead, the junior flung an errant pass that bounced into the stick of Penn midfielder Gracie Smith.

The senior then hurled a pass to attacker Erika Chung, who tied the game with two seconds remaining.

It was a crucial mistake in the contest’s waning moments.

“We should have just thrown the ball,” Reese said. “I don’t know that we knew how much time was left on the clock, but [we] just should have checked it.”

[With the help of Caroline Smith, JJ Suriano is peaking late for Maryland women’s lacrosse]

JJ Suriano’s regular-season clash vs. Penn was one of her worst outings of the season. Maryland women’s lacrosse’s sophomore goalkeeper made just five saves on 16 shots on goal and was pulled from the game with 13:01 remaining in the fourth quarter.

But since Maryland’s four-game road trip at the end of March, Suriano has turned her season around. The goalie has recorded at least a .429 save rate in six of her past seven games and continued that streak on Sunday, finishing with a .577 save rate.

Suriano’s rematch against Penn started almost identically to her performance in Philadelphia, as senior midfielder Anna Brandt opened the scoring on Penn’s first possession. But the sophomore settled in after the early goal, stopping six of the next seven Quakers’ shots on goal, and finished the game with 16 saves.

“She’s an excellent goalie, and I’ve loved how she’s developed as a player this year,” Reese said. “The D in front of her has done a nice job of setting her up, and when she’s put in that situation, she comes away with some big saves.”

Penn’s top-ranked offense entered the game red-hot, scoring in double-digits the past six games. Brandt, the program’s all-time leading goal scorer, scored three goals in each of her prior two contests against the Terps.

The Terps’ defense didn’t solely rely on their goalie. Penn attacker Catherine Berkery, who stands at 5-foot-10, is a constant presence in the Quakers’ attack. She tallied five goals and eight points in Penn’s first-round matchup.

But Maryland matched Berkery against defender Annabella Schafer for most of the first half. Schafer’s 5-foot-11 frame prevented Berkery from using her height and forced the Quakers to find alternative options.

But Berkery was able to get open on Penn’s final play of the game and send the Quakers to the NCAA Tournament Quarterfinals. The goal ended Maryland’s season on its home turf for the second straight season, this time in stunning fashion.
CORRECTION: A previous version of this story misstated that Annabelle Schafer forced a turnover with eight seconds remaining. It was Neve O’Ferrall. A previous version of this story also misstated that O’Ferrall is a junior. She is a sophomore. This story has been updated.

The Terps dropped the opening draw against Fairfield but quickly flipped the script, outdueling the Stags in the circle, 15-12.

Backed by their performance in the draw circle and a potent offensive attack, No. 6-seeded Maryland defeated unseeded Fairfield, 16-7, at the Maryland Field Hockey and Lacrosse Complex on Friday in the programs’ first-ever meeting.

Maryland earned its 18th consecutive NCAA Tournament first-round win and will host the winner of Penn and Army.

“I thought in the first half we were excellent in the draw,” coach Cathy Reese said. “Their draw team is very good, so for us to be able to counteract that and come up with as many draws as we did was really good for us today.”

[With the help of Caroline Smith, JJ Suriano is peaking late for Maryland women’s lacrosse]

Fairfield entered Friday’s contest having won nine of its previous ten games, largely behind its success in the draw circle. But Kayla Gilmore disrupted that trend, securing nine of her 10 draw attempts and halting the Stags’ momentum. Her dominance helped fuel a 7-0 Maryland run early in the game.

The Terps had scored just seven times against Northwestern in the Big Ten championship, but surpassed that total just over 20 minutes into Friday’s second quarter. Unlike that lopsided loss, Maryland’s offense was balanced — with nine different players finding the back of the net.

“We got time from everyone that could have played today, which was great, and got to see them be able to contribute in different ways,” coach Cathy Reese said. “I love when we can see the depth, and everybody contributing. It’s something we’ve been emphasizing all year.”

Still, much of Maryland’s early offense came from junior midfielder Kori Edmondson, who entered the game amid career highs in goals, assists and points. The Tewaaraton nominee starred again, factoring into three of Maryland’s first five goals. She added a third goal in the third quarter, slipping a shot between the legs of Fairfield freshman goalkeeper Keira Furey.

[Maryland women’s lacrosse earns No. 6 seed in NCAA tournament]

Edmondson’s third goal not only marked her sixth straight game with at least a hat trick, but also gave coach Cathy Reese the chance to substitute Kayla Gilmore for attacker Hailey Russo on the draw.

The senior had taken draws intermittently throughout the season — most notably in the Big Ten Quarterfinals, when Gilmore was out for personal reasons. Russo helped Maryland to 21 draw controls in that win over Rutgers, and she added four more against Fairfield, helping the Terps maintain a comfortable lead down the stretch.

After the Big Ten Championship loss to Northwestern, Reese said she needed more from her attackers. Sophomore Lauren LaPointe delivered. She scored a career-best five goals — nearly a third of Maryland’s total — and posted her third multi-goal performance in the last four games.

“I think it’s just the chemistry with my teammates,” LaPointe said. “I think I’ve really grown a lot closer to them just through this tournament play and so many games in a short amount of time.”

The Terps’ game against Virginia on April 9 marked the third time in four games the goalkeeper was pulled due to poor play. The Terps’ four-game road stand ended with a .500 record — highlighting Suriano’s struggles in the cage.

But Suriano has overcome the bad stretch. She earned All-Big Ten Tournament honors the past week and hasn’t been removed for inadequate production since the April stretch.

Suriano had struggled this season, but with the help of senior goalkeeper Caroline Smith, she’s peaking with impeccable timing as the Terps enter the NCAA tournament.

“I think Caroline Smith has been a great resource for her,” coach Cathy Reese said on April 8. “They understand how goalies think and what they do … It just gives you a chance to reset, calm yourself down and go back in.”

Smith transferred from Butler before the 2025 season and began bonding with Suriano during the fall semester.

Despite Smith leading the Big East in saves last year and being the most experienced goalkeeper on the Terps’ roster, Reese elected to start Suriano in Maryland’s season opener.

But Suriano was pulled in favor of Julia Ward with 5:39 remaining in the third quarter. She recorded four saves on 16 shots on goal.

[Maryland women’s lacrosse earns No. 6 seed in NCAA tournament]

“Coming into the season, I kind of underestimated how much different it was going to be, actually playing in games,” Suriano said. “[Smith] definitely helped me put everything into perspective.” 

Suriano’s struggles resurfaced during Maryland’s four-game road trip between the end of March and early April. The first time she returned after getting pulled was against Arizona State, as Suriano was substituted with Ward with fewer than eight minutes remaining in the second quarter.

While Suriano was on the sidelines, Smith talked to her about adjusting her positioning during eight-meter shots. Smith said Suriano can get “jumpy” and take herself out of position.

When Suriano returned to the cage with 8:44 remaining in the third quarter, Smith’s in-game adjustments translated into immediate results. Suriano made six saves on the final eight shots on goal. 

“[Now] I can just say during a timeout ‘hold’ and she knows exactly what I mean, and … she’s able to fix it and then make the next save,” Smith said.

[Maryland women’s lacrosse showed resilience despite gut-wrenching loss in Big Ten finals]

While Suriano struggled again against Virginia, she finished the season by stopping at least 42.9 percent of opponents’ shots on goal in five of her past six games. Her best performance was in the Big Ten Tournament.

The Wildcats, who excelled in free-position opportunities in the programs’ first meeting, couldn’t convert on any opportunities against Suriano.

“Honestly, it was kind of just adjusting my positioning and where I stand initially,” Suriano said. “If I’m in the right position, then I have a really good chance at making that save, and I think that was kind of the biggest thing [from] talking with [Smith].”

While Maryland lost the Big Ten Championship, Suriano became the first Maryland women’s lacrosse goalkeeper since 2017 to record 18 saves in a single game. Suriano’s performance marked her second consecutive game with double-digit saves and helped her earn a spot on the Big Ten Tournament Team.

“There [were] a couple of games this year where I wasn’t necessarily proud of my performance,” Suriano said. “So just kind of being able to mentally bounce back and put my best effort out was super exciting, so I’m very proud about that.”

The Terps enter the tournament after falling in the Big Ten championship game last week. Maryland’s Big Ten finals performance marked an impressive turnaround for a team that failed to win a Big Ten tournament game last season and brought in 11 freshmen to start the 2025 season.

Fairfield enters the opening round of the NCAA tournament as the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Champion for the sixth time in the past seven tournaments. The Stags lost in the first round of the NCAA tournament to Johns Hopkins last season. 

[Maryland women’s lacrosse showed resilience despite gut-wrenching loss in Big Ten finals]

Fairfield finished as the second-highest scoring team in the MAAC this season, registering 229 goals and shooting at a 48.2 percent clip. The offensive unit is primarily led by attackers Grace Slater and Kelly Haggerty, combining for nearly 40 percent of the team’s total scoring.

If Maryland wins the first round, it will play the winner of Penn and Army West Point. The Terps would host the winner between the unseeded teams..

The Terps (14-5, 7-1 Big Ten) played the Quakers earlier this season in Philadelphia and lost in the final 30 seconds off a goal from attacker Keeley Block. The Terps were without defender Kennedy Major in that game and her return could prove vital in a rematch.

[Maryland women’s lacrosse falters late in Big Ten championship, falls 8-7 to Northwestern]

If the Terps win two games in the NCAA tournament, they have a chance to play No. 3-seeded Northwestern for the third time this season. Maryland nearly beat Northwestern in the Big Ten championship, but the Terps would not have home-field advantage this time around. The Wildcats defeated the Terps 16-4 in Evanston back in March.

Despite the tough schedule, there is optimism for the Terps to make a run.

The team’s core of attacker Chrissy Thomas, midfielder Kori Edmondson and defenders Neve O’Ferrall and Major were all part of a squad that won two NCAA Tournament games last season. Edmondson has tallied at least three goals in each of her past five games.

Goalkeeper JJ Suriano’s play in recent games is also promising, stopping at least 45 percent of shots in four of her last five games.

The junior had scored four times in the game on free-position opportunities. She had a chance to tie the game and send Maryland women’s lacrosse to overtime.

But Northwestern defender Jane Hansen stick-checked Edmondson before she could complete her shot, sending the ball over the goal.

Despite No. 2-seed Maryland falling 7-8 on a last-second play to No. 1-seed Northwestern, the young Terps showcased their resilience throughout the game.

“I couldn’t be more proud of them,” coach Cathy Reese said. “The resiliency of all of these guys, they blow me away.”

When Maryland played Northwestern last month, the Terps lost 4-16. Reese stated afterward that her team “had a lack of toughness all over the field.” But the Terps demonstrated their toughness on Sunday, primarily through their defensive unit.

[The Diamondback Sports Digest: Maryland women’s lacrosse collapses in Big Ten championship]

Despite inconsistent play throughout parts of the season, goalkeeper JJ Suriano recorded 18 saves, marking a career-best. The sophomore became the first Maryland goalkeeper since 2017 to make this many stops in a single game.

Eleven of those saves came in the first half, leaving the Big Ten’s highest scoring offense with just two first-half tallies — its lowest all season.

“We’ve seen games this season where [Suriano’s] been on fire, like today,” Reese said. “She rose to the challenge. Our [defense] put [the Wildcats] in great spots that she could make saves from.”

When the Wildcats did score in the first half, the Terps responded roughly a minute after each goal. Most of Maryland’s goals came from the free position line — an area Northwestern struggled defending in its previous matchup.

Johns Hopkins scored on four of its five attempts against Northwestern from the free position line in its Big Ten semifinals game. Maryland replicated similar success, scoring five of its seven goals on free position opportunities.

[Maryland women’s lacrosse falters late in Big Ten championship, falls 8-7 to Northwestern]

But the Terps’ offense struggled in the second half, going nearly 22 minutes without a goal. Despite the offensive drought, Maryland’s defensive unit remained stout, forcing three turnovers in the final quarter.

In a game where Maryland was thoroughly outshot, 19-41, the Wildcats did not secure their first lead until two minutes remaining in the game.

The Terps recorded a season-low seven draws on Sunday, but won the game’s last one as midfielder Lexi Dupcak charged after the loose ball in the draw circle. The sophomore collided hard with Northwestern midfielder Sam Smith, generating a loud gasp from the crowd and giving possession to Maryland.

Edmondson then quickly grabbed the ball and sprinted up the field, weaving between a pair of defenders before drawing a green card on midfielder Emerson Bohlig.

While Edmondson couldn’t convert on her final free-position shot, the Terps’ ability to generate a quality look in the final seconds is a good sign with the NCAA tournament beginning on May 9.

“Kori led the team,” Reese said. “We had an opportunity down there, and I would give it to her again and again and again from what we’ve seen from her this season.”

With 20 seconds remaining in a tied game and Northwestern up a player in the Big Ten championship, senior midfielder Emerson Bohlig backpedaled to the 12-meter arc. She hurled a pass to midfielder Aditi Foster, unmarked in front of the net.

Suriano had stopped a career-high 18 shots, but the final shot she faced snuck past her with 15 seconds remaining.

Northwestern defeated Maryland, 8-7, behind the late goal to secure its third consecutive Big Ten title on Sunday at the Maryland Field Hockey and Lacrosse Complex.

“I think they have a lot to be proud of,” coach Cath Reese said. “To know that you can play with one of the best teams in the country … I think it is something that they need to hang on to.”

The last time Maryland women’s lacrosse faced Northwestern, it wasn’t close — the Wildcats scored eight unanswered goals in the first quarter and cruised to a 12-goal victory. But in Sunday’s Big Ten Tournament championship, Maryland’s defense started much stronger, largely thanks to goalkeeper JJ Suriano.

Suriano, who tied her career high with 13 saves in the semifinal win over Michigan, surpassed that mark with 9:02 left in the third quarter against Northwestern. After posting a .565 save percentage in the semifinals, the sophomore elevated her performance even further in the title match, recording a .692 save rate against the Wildcats.

[Maryland women’s lacrosse advances to Big Ten championship with 13-10 win over Michigan]

“Today was a great day to bring it,” Reese said. “We needed her again, such a powerful [Northwestern] offense, but she stepped up [and] she rose to the challenge.”

The goalkeeper stopped each of the first two shots she faced, with both saves coming against attacker Madison Taylor. The junior entered the game as one of the nation’s most prolific goal scorers, tallying 87 goals, ranking second nationally.

Taylor had been dominant from the free position line all season, tallying 32 of her goals from the eight-meter line. But on Sunday, Taylor struggled to convert on free-position attempts, failing to capitalize on every free-position opportunity.

Suriano finished the game with a career-high 18 saves, tying a Big Ten Tournament record and limiting the Big Ten’s top scoring offense to a season low in goals scored. Her 18 saves were also the most by any Maryland goalkeeper in a single game since Megan Taylor’s 2017 performance against Syracuse.

Eleven of Suriano’s saves came in the first half, but she was unable to maintain her pace in the third quarter. Suriano made four more saves in the quarter, but Northwestern finally broke through in the final five minutes, scoring three times on its final four shots.

Despite Suriano continuing to perform well in the fourth quarter, the Wildcats found similar success at the end of the fourth quarter, scoring on their final three shots.

[Maryland women’s lacrosse avenges last season’s upset with 17-11 win over Rutgers]

While Suriano shined in net, Maryland’s team defense also impressed. The Terps played tight, compact defense, allowing them to quickly double-team drivers and disrupt passes inside the eight-meter arc, forcing six turnovers and two shot clock violations in the first half.

“Northwestern has some of the best shooters in the nation, and we did a good job holding them today,” Reese said.

While Northwestern struggled to convert its free-position attempts, Maryland capitalized early behind midfielder Kori Edmondson, who scored two quick goals and had converted at a 72 percent clip all season.

But the Terps’ offense sputtered in the second half, managing just two goals — both from Edmondson on free-position shots — marking her seventh four-goal game of the season and fifth straight with at least three goals.

Edmondson tied the game at seven late in the fourth quarter on a free-position chance, and had an opportunity to do the same with two seconds remaining, but her shot was deflected over the net.“She is the best midfielder in the nation [and] we saw that again tonight,” Reese said. “That is 100 percent who I would put on the eight meter again with two seconds left in any game that we have this season.”

Tewaaraton Award Nominee goalkeeper Erin O’Grady did not dress in Michigan’s Friday night contest. Without her presence in the cage, the Terps advanced to the Big Ten Championship with a 13-10 victory at the Field Hockey and Lacrosse Complex.

“Tonight’s game was a battle,” coach Cathy Reese said. “It was really just great to see how our girls … kept fighting through the past couple days to make it to the championship.”

O’Grady played nearly every minute for Michigan this season, starting the Wolverines’ prior game against USC. But the senior was substituted for graduate student Maya Santa-Maria with over two minutes remaining in the first half and never returned.

[Maryland women’s lacrosse avenges last season’s upset with 17-11 win over Rutgers]

O’Grady’s .540 season save rate and 150 saves — the second most in the Big Ten — helped anchor a Wolverines defensive unit that surrendered the third fewest goals in the Big Ten. Santa-Maria, appearing in her first game since April 6, made two saves in relief of O’Grady against USC. But after limited action this season, Maryland capitalized on her rust Friday night.

The Terps scored on their first three possessions and forced a timeout from the Wolverines just over five minutes into the game.

One of the first three Maryland goal scorers was attacker Lauren LaPointe. The sophomore didn’t score in the schools’ previous meeting on March 16, but LaPointe scored three times on Friday.

LaPointe frequently targeted the lower portion of the cage in her three-goal performance in Maryland’s previous game — a strategy she continued against Michigan, with all her goals coming on low shots.

“She’s been a really versatile play for us,” Reese said. “She’s playing behind, she’s playing up top, she’s running, … she’s all over the place, and I love how she’s really embraced that role and embraced every opportunity she’s had with the ball.”

While LaPointe was one of just five Maryland goal scorers, the Terps’ offense remained efficient through the first three quarters.. After shooting around 41 percent in their previous game, they maintained a similar mark despite a fourth-quarter lull. Maryland scored once in the final quarter, but goalkeeper JJ Suraino helped stave off a Michigan comeback.

[Team captains help Maryland women’s lacrosse overcome recent offense struggles]

Suriano struggled in her first meeting with Michigan, posting her second-worst save percentage against a conference opponent this season. But in the rematch, the sophomore delivered a stellar performance. Suriano tied a career-high with 12 saves and a .565 save rate.

“I think as the season’s going on, I’ve just begun to trust myself more,” Suriano said. “Now I’m kind of leaning back, letting the game come to me, and just playing it more simple.”

The Terps will need strong performances from Suriano and their offense against Northwestern on Sunday. In their last meeting, Maryland fell behind 8-1 after the first quarter and never recovered.

“We knew after going back through that we had more in us than we showed that day,” Reese said. “We knew that we could have made more defensive stops, we could have made more saves, we could have attacked the cage more and scored more opportunities.”

It’s a familiar matchup in the title game. Maryland and Northwestern have combined to win all nine Big Ten championships and have faced each other in four finals. The Wildcats have won the last two tournaments, while Maryland’s last title came in 2022.

Midfielder Kayla Gilmore had made every start this season for the Terps. But standing inside the draw circle against Rutgers in the Big Ten tournament quarterfinals was attacker Hailey Russo.

No. 2-seed Maryland dominated in that spot despite Gilmore’s absence. The Terps crushed the No. 7-seed Scarlet Knights in the draw battle, 21-11, in a 17-11 win at the Field Hockey and Lacrosse Complex.

“I called her name and I said, ‘I need you to step up,’ and she said, ‘Got it,’” coach Cathy Reese said. “Russo doesn’t get a lot of playing time … [but] she brought the energy today, and she brought the execution.”

Gilmore began the game as Maryland’s leader in draw controls. The freshman started the year in rotation with fellow freshman Devin Livingston, but throughout the season, Gilmore emerged as the staple in Maryland’s draw unit.

But Russo had experience in the draw circle. The senior recorded 18 draw controls in her three prior seasons and was sparingly used throughout the season.

The most time Russo spent in the draw circle this season came against Denver back on March 1. The senior was substituted in the second half and secured seven draw controls, allowing Maryland to mount a second-half comeback.

[Team captains help Maryland women’s lacrosse overcome recent offense struggles]

The senior used her experience against Rutgers on Wednesday, taking every draw for the Terps and assisting them in winning 21 of 32 draws. The extra possessions allowed Maryland’s offense to find its rhythm after a sluggish opening quarter.

“We just didn’t shoot well in the first quarter,” Reese said. “But as the game went on — I mean, for us to put up 17 goals against them, I thought was an awesome job by our offense.”

In Maryland’s prior game this season against Rutgers, Maryland changed its shooting strategy in the final quarter. Instead of shooting high on graduate student goalkeeper Lexie Coldiron, the Terps focused their shots near Coldiron’s far-side hip and inside her legs.”

The offensive adjustment proved successful for the Terps’ offense as they scored on their first three shots of the quarter. Two of those goals came from midfielder Kori Edmondson’s stick, and the Tewaaraton nominee continued to dominate by employing the same strategy.

Edmondson’s first goal came on a free-position chance, but her second showcased all of the unanimous First Team All-Big Ten selection’s ability.

[Jordyn Lipkin leads No. 8 Maryland women’s lacrosse in 13-11 win over No. 10 Johns Hopkins]

With 12:44 remaining in the second quarter, Edmondson corralled the ball on the upper left side of the eight-meter arc. The junior quickly dodged to her right before weaving between three stick checks and placing a shot past Coldiron’s right hip to give Maryland a 4-2 lead. The goal helped spark a Maryland offense that struggled in the opening quarter.

Despite Maryland’s offense utilizing the same strategy as Edmondson, the rest of the unit struggled to convert on chances because of its predictability. Maryland placed all 12 of its first-quarter shots below the knees of Coldiron, allowing the nation’s leader in saves to easily anticipate where Maryland was shooting.

“In the first quarter … we were just shooting at her,” Edmondson said. “But the game plan was to come in and just shoot for net, shoot low, find the net, and that’s all we needed to do.”

But in the following quarter, Maryland did a better job of varying its shots as Livingston beat Coldiron to the upper right corner on her free position chance, and sophomore attacker Lauren LaPointe scored between Coldiron’s legs. The Terps shot just 25 percent in the opening quarter, but the adjustment saw Maryland shoot over 44 percent in the following quarter.

The Terps’ offense continued to thrive in the second half, scoring 10 times. They finished the game shooting 41 percent, as Coldiron surrendered her most goals since March 23 against Johns Hopkins.

Russo’s dominance in the draw circle allowed her to not only avenge last season’s upset to Rutgers, but slap the Maryland sticker on the Big Ten bracket. Maryland will now await the winner of No. 3-seed Michigan and No. 6-seed USC.

“She gave us 21 draw controls, [so] she can slap that sucker on anytime she wants,” Reese said.

But that changed in the No. 8 Terps’ win over the No. 10 Blue Jays, as they scored 13 goals and shot more than 40 percent — their highest mark in two weeks. In the final regular season game, the Terps’ leaders led the surge.

“We displayed confidence and poise through the whole time, even when they were coming back … [we] answered with goals,” coach Cathy Reese said.

In Maryland’s prior three games, captains Chrissy Thomas, Jordyn Lipkin and Kori Edmondson combined to score on just a third of their shots. Against Rutgers, the trio combined for six goals, but only Lipkin scored through the first three quarters.

Rutgers goalkeeper Lexie Coldiron played a key role in the Terps’ struggles. The graduate student, who leads the nation with 183 saves, held Maryland to just eight goals.

Early on, the Terps aimed high on most of their shots but found little success. It wasn’t until the fourth quarter — when they began targeting Coldiron’s hips and legs — that their approach finally began to pay off.

[Jordyn Lipkin leads No. 8 Maryland women’s lacrosse in 13-11 win over No. 10 Johns Hopkins]

“We needed to move her and put the ball around her lower [half],” Reese said on Friday. “Once we figured that out and made a shooting adjustment, I think they did much better.”

Edmondson did just that on her eventual game-winning free-position goal, rifling a shot past Coldiron’s right hip. The goal was Maryland’s fourth on six shots since changing shooting strategies.

Maryland’s captains continued the success in their following game against the Blue Jays, combining for nine of the Terps’ 13 goals and shooting at nearly a 53 percent clip.

​​After freshman Shelby Sullivan turned the ball over on Maryland’s first two possessions — both leading to Johns Hopkins goals — Lipkin quickly halted the run. The senior answered with goals on three of Maryland’s next five trips, exploiting gaps in the Blue Jays’ zone with sharp off-ball movement.

“When they start with a goal, you have to respond,” Lipkin said. “Whatever happens in the first five minutes isn’t gonna determine what the game’s gonna end up being. So I think it’s just staying calm, composed, knowing our game plan.”

Lipkin’s third goal ignited the rest of Maryland’s offense, sparking a 8-5 run to close the half. That surge gave the Terps a much-needed cushion, especially as uncharacteristic struggles in the draw circle kept the game from ever feeling fully in hand.

[Maryland women’s lacrosse beats Rutgers 8–7 with late push, keeps Big Ten title hopes alive]

For just the second time this season, Maryland lost the draw battle, with Johns Hopkins winning 17 of 27, including a 9-4 edge in the second half that fueled four two-goal deficits. Still, the Terps’ captains shot efficiently enough to hold off a late push.

While Lipkin spearheaded Maryland’s offense in the opening quarter, Thomas led it in the fourth — scoring two goals in the final frame. Her aggressiveness was on display in her final goal, blowing past her defender and scoring through the legs of Hopkins’ goalie with less than three minutes left — Maryland’s third straight answer to a Blue Jays goal.

“We didn’t end on a run [but] we were able to answer on the goals that they had,” Reese said. “We didn’t let them go on a run, and that was what was huge for us.”

The Terps will face Rutgers again for the second time in three games on Wednesday in the Big Ten Tournament. The Terps will likely need their offense to stay in double figures to avoid a repeat of last season, when Rutgers defeated Maryland in the Big Ten Quarterfinals.

With the Terps seeing success by shooting low on Coldiron in their last game, they may seek to utilize a similar strategy.