The Terps look to make it seven straight wins.
No. 4 Maryland women’s lacrosse (6-1) has turned the corner after a sluggish start to the season, looking like a national title contender. The Terps have rattled off six straight wins and defeated two ranked foes thus far.
This momentum has continued in Big Ten play. Maryland overcame a four-goal second-quarter deficit in its conference opener, handling Penn State with ease, 19-11, on the road. Three days later, the Terps extended their dominance over No. 12 Michigan, moving to 12-0 all-time over the Wolverines and holding off a late push to win, 14-12.
But Saturday’s contest against No. 3 Northwestern will prove this team’s legitimacy and is a chance for Maryland to halt its recent struggles against the Wildcats. After winning 10 of the first 14 meetings, including nine consecutive, the Terps have fallen in seven of the last nine.
Maryland travels to Evanston, Illinois, where it hasn’t won since 2019. The match starts at 2 p.m. and will air on Big Ten Network.
No. 3 Northwestern Wildcats (7-1, 1-0 Big Ten)
2024 record: 18-3, 51 Big Ten
A perennial powerhouse since its establishment in 2002, Northwestern’s quick uprising in Division I has been quite impressive. And 24th-year head coach Kelly Amonte Hiller is rightfully credited for this. She guided the Wildcats to a perfect record and their first of eight national championships — the second-most in the country — in just her fourth season.
Last year, Northwestern earned its 20th consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance. After finishing 13-2 in the regular season and sealing the Big Ten Tournament championship, the Wildcats entered the tournament with the No. 1 seed. However, Northwestern fell short again, losing to Boston College, 14-13, in the national championship game.
The Wildcats have picked up where they left off, showcasing their ability to run the table. Through eight contests and three ranked victories, Northwestern holds a scoring margin of 9.3, the third-highest mark in the country. Its lone blemish on the season came against No. 1 Boston College, falling 13-9 at home.
Players to watch
Madison Taylor, junior attacker, No. 25 — Taylor has had a goalscoring knack since arriving on campus. Last season’s Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association All-America first-teamer notched the third-most goals (83) in the country, while adding 33 assists. Taylor has only improved, leading the nation with 5.6 goals per game.
Delaney Sweitzer, graduate student goalkeeper, No. 13 — Sweitzer has delivered in her first year with the Wildcats after transferring in from Syracuse. The veteran netminder has lived up to the hype and remained one of the country’s best. Sweitzer ranks sixth in the nation with 8.3 goals conceded per game and has stopped 48.7% of the shots faced.
Sammy White, senior defender, No. 23 — The Maryland native is contributing her best all-around season. After earning All-Big Ten second-team honors last season, White is on track to post career numbers. She has collected a team-high 17 ground balls, sits second with 15 turnovers forced and tallied 16 draw controls.
Strength
Controlling the circle. Northwestern’s faceoff unit is third in the country in both draw controls per game (17.9) and draw control percentage (65.6). Midfielder Sam Smith is a big reason why, leading the team with 50 draw controls. However, the Wildcats utilize a committee approach — similar to Maryland. Fifteen players have recorded at least one draw control.
Weakness
Foul trouble. The lone glaring weakness on an otherwise elite team is Northwestern’s foul issues. While those struggles are expected for a physical and strong defensive team, the Wildcats commit 19.5 fouls per game, the second-highest rate in the country. This has resulted in 36 free-position opportunities and 14 goals.
Three things to watch
1. Who leads the attack? The Terps’ recent offensive surge has come from a variety of players. Without a go-to attacker, Maryland’s balanced approach has been successful. Kate Sites produced a team-high four goals in the last game. However, players like Kori Edmondson, Shelby Sullivan, Jordyn Lipkin and Maisy Clevenger are capable of taking over a game.
2. Steady climb. After losing their season opener, the Terps fell to No. 9 in the Inside Lacrosse poll. However, throughout its six-game winning streak, Maryland has climbed back into the top five. A win on Saturday will most likely see the Terps leapfrog Northwestern up to No. 3 in the rankings.
3. Clean play. While Maryland has gotten more offensive production, sloppiness has still plagued this unit. The Terps rank 68th in the nation with 15.3 turnovers per game, including 18 against Michigan. Empty possessions will be difficult to overcome against Northwestern — the fourth-best attacking unit in the country.