The Terps look to secure second place in the Big Ten.
No. 7 Maryland women’s lacrosse (10-4) controls its own destiny with just two games left in the regular season. Following their 8-5 victory over Ohio State and No. 8 Johns Hopkins’ 13-2 loss to No. 13 Michigan, the Terps’ path to the No. 2 seed in the Big Ten Tournament rests in their hands.
But as Sunday’s contest proves, no team in conference play can be taken lightly. The Big Ten currently has five of its nine teams inside this week’s Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association top-25 poll, with USC sitting just outside the rankings.
Maryland’s stifling defense — which held Ohio State to a season-low in goals — overcame a subpar offensive efficiency performance, which converted just eight of its 20 shots on frame. While some of those stops can be credited to goalie Jocelyn Torres, the Terps will need to be better in front of goal.
Maryland’s offense will have a chance to make amends Wednesday. The Terps travel to Piscataway, New Jersey, for a battle with Rutgers. The contest will start at 6 p.m. and air on Big Ten Network.
Rutgers Scarlet Knights (8-7, 2-4 Big Ten)
Head coach Melissa Lehman was named the Big Ten Coach of the Year three seasons ago. In the Scarlet Knights’ first 43 years of existence, it made just one NCAA Tournament appearance. Just five seasons into her tenure, Lehman has guided Rutgers to two tournament berths, including consecutive second-round exits.
Last season was a step in the wrong direction, though. After cruising through its first four games, the Scarlet Knights hit a bump in the form of then-No. 23 Princeton — a common theme throughout the year. Rutgers managed just one win in its nine ranked clashes, coming against Maryland. The Scarlet Knights’ 8-10 record was also their worst in four seasons.
Those same issues have plagued Rutgers this year. Five of the Scarlet Knights’ seven defeats have come against top-25 opponents: then-No. 4 Yale, then-No. 12 Princeton, then-No. 7 Johns Hopkins, then-No. 3 Northwestern and then-No. 22 USC. However, Rutgers has secured victories over then-No. 16 Stony Brook and then-No. 21 Ohio State.
Players to know
Lexie Coldiron, graduate student goalkeeper, No. 22 — Coldiron has shined in her first season after transferring from Lafayette. The Maryland native has been a staple in net since arriving on campus, proving the hype behind her was justified. She holds the fifth-highest save percentage (50.8%) and sixth-most saves per game (10.7) in the nation.
Lily Dixon, junior attacker, No. 11 — After a breakout sophomore campaign in which she posted a team-high 30 assists and 13 goals, Dixon has grasped control of the offense. Dixon, another Maryland local, has posted 33 assists — the 20th-best total in the country — and a career-high 16 goals this season.
Katie Buck, junior attacker, No. 13 — Coming off a season-ending injury, Buck has showcased her dominant presence on the field. A top-100-ranked recruit in the class of 2023, according to Inside Lacrosse, she is the leader of the Scarlet Knights’ faceoff unit. She has corralled 6.1 draw controls per game, which ranks sixth in the Big Ten and 34th in the nation.
Strength
Net protection. While Rutgers has asked a lot of Coldiron, the veteran netminder has been up to the challenge. Behind her steadied presence in goal, the Scarlet Knights have conceded 10.5 goals per game while making the most saves in the Big Ten (165) and stopping 51.1% of the shots faced.
Weakness
Producing goals. Rutgers’ defense has kept the team in games all season long, overcoming lackluster offensive performances. Without a clear-cut scoring option, the Scarlet Knights’ unit has struggled, ranking last in the conference with 10.7 goals per game. Rutgers has only scored on 25 of its 73 free-position looks, one of the lowest percentages in the country.
Three things to watch
1. Redemption opportunity. Last season, the Scarlet Knights ended Maryland’s run in the Big Ten Tournament, handing it a 9-8 loss in the first round. The Terps will have a chance to avenge that loss Wednesday and extend their dominance in the series. Maryland has won 12 of the 14 meetings between the programs.
2. Offense’s get-back performance. The Terps had one of their worst offensive outings of the season against Ohio State, scoring their second-fewest total. Maryland’s balanced attack has been prone to inefficient games, but Wednesday’s contest will provide the Terps an opportunity to prove itself against another proven goalie.
3. Final regular season road game. After going 2-2 on its four-game road trip, Maryland will have a shot to produce a victory in its last regular season contest away from College Park. Two of the Terps’ four losses have been on the road, with another coming at a neutral site.