With 10 freshman recruits arriving in College Park next season and only five players graduating, roster space was going to be at a premium for Maryland women’s lacrosse in 2026.
However, head coach Cathy Reese was granted more spots to work with on Tuesday. Five players entered the transfer portal, per a report from Inside Lacrosse.
The majority of those departures hail from Maryland’s 2024 recruiting class. Of the 11 newcomers in 2025, goalie Julia Ward, defender Lydia Ward, midfielder Megan Kenny and attacker Megan MacMurray have opted to part ways with Maryland. Rising junior midfielder Avery Bickell is also leaving College Park.
Julia Ward appeared in six games last season in relief of starting goalkeeper JJ Suriano. While she only conceded 13 goals in her 57 total minutes of action, the freshman netminder never cracked Reese’s rotation. Ward garnered minutes in three contests during Maryland’s four-game road trip, her longest stretch of play with the Terps.
The other half of the only sibling pair on Maryland’s roster last season, defender Lydia Ward, is also departing. Inside Lacrosse’s No. 30-ranked recruit played in 10 games last year, scooping up two ground balls, corralling one draw control and forcing one turnover. While Sophie Halus graduates from the Terps’ starting defensive rotation, the addition of three recruits left Lydia Ward facing an uphill battle for field time.
Kenny made nine appearances last year coming off the bench. As Maryland’s lone four-star recruit in that recruiting class, she only totaled two goals on seven shots, one ground ball and caused one turnover. With limited experience at the collegiate level, she was never a lock to become one of the Terps’ key pieces next year. Her path to playing time next season was also blocked by an influx of seven midfield recruits, most of which are expected to immediately step into the rotation.
MacMurray is the final portal entry from the class of 2024. She failed to appear in any of the Terps’ games last season, which likely led to her exit. The Pennsylvania native totaled over 200 points in high school but never had a chance to contribute to the attack at Maryland.
Bickell spent the past two seasons in College Park, coming in as part of Maryland’s 2023 recruiting class. However, she was never given much of a leash to prove her talents. Bickell never appeared in a game in 2025 having made just three appearances in her freshman campaign. She secured one draw control that season but failed to make any other contributions.
The five portal departures provide Reese with roster space to tool with next season’s team. She will likely try to make splashes in the attacking area, as the Terps lose two of their three starters from 2025. A backup for Suriano is another potential option given Julia Ward’s transfer and Caroline Smith’s graduation.
After three straight disappointing seasons, Reese is under heavy pressure by the fans to produce next year. She has shown the capability to bring in impact transfers — entering her 20th offseason with Maryland, she will need to do just that.