The Terps look to keep their win streak alive after a successful West Coast road trip.
No. 7 Maryland women’s lacrosse is fresh off its most convincing win of the season over a ranked opponent, defeating No. 18 USC, 16-8. However, the Terps’ early struggles hindered their ability to produce offense in the first quarter, as they committed five first-quarter turnovers.
After trailing 3-2 heading into the second quarter, Maryland’s offense turned it up a notch. The Terps scored nine goals in the next 15 minutes of play, tallying just one turnover and holding the Trojans scoreless in the process. Maryland recorded 12 unanswered scores and took a commanding 11-goal lead at one point.
Following their two-game West Coast sweep of Arizona State and USC, the Terps return to the East Coast for a clash with No. 11 Virginia Wednesday. The game will start at 6 p.m. and can be watched on the Corrigan Sports Network.
No. 11 Virginia Cavaliers (9-4, 4-3 ACC)
Second-year head coach Sonia LaMonica had big shoes to fill when she was handed the reins at Virginia. Julie Myers — the previous coach — reached a historic feat, having guided the Cavaliers to the NCAA Tournament in all 27 seasons she was at the helm. However, LaMonica has experienced her own success, leading Towson to seven tournament appearances in her 13 seasons there.
LaMonica brought Virginia to the NCAA Tournament in 2024. The Cavaliers rattled off nine wins in its first 10 contests, their best start to the year since 2007. Virginia also gathered six ranked victories, including a win over then-No. 3 Boston College — last year’s national champions — in overtime. Despite boasting the No. 5-seed, Virginia fell in the second round of the tournament to No. 10-seed Florida.
This season, the Cavaliers have looked just as good, throttling all six unranked opponents. However, Virginia has struggled to match last year’s win success against elite programs, going 3-4 against ranked opponents. The Cavaliers have defeated then-No. 17 Princeton, then-No. 13 Duke and then-No. 14 James Madison.
Players to know
Madison Alaimo, sophomore attacker, No. 16 — Inside Lacrosse’s No. 24-ranked recruit in the class of 2023 has been as good as advertised. Alaimo set the program’s single-season freshman record with 27 assists, and was an ACC All-Freshman team honoree. She currently ranks ninth in the nation with three assists per game, while contributing 16 goals.
Kate Galica, sophomore midfielder, No. 5 — Galica is an all-around versatile threat, and last season proved exactly that. The 2024 ACC Freshman of the Year posted 27 ground balls, 21 goals and 97 draw controls, the program’s single-season freshman draw control record. This season, she has corralled the 10th-most draw controls per game in the country (9.6) and added 31 goals.
Jenna DiNardo, sophomore attacker, No. 4 — After earning a spot on the ACC All-Freshman team last year, DiNardo is on pace to shatter her totals. The USA Lacrosse Magazine Preseason All-America honorable mention notched 39 goals — the third-best mark on the team — last year. She has tallied a team-high 35 goals and 16 assists this season.
Strength
Draw controls. Virginia’s faceoff unit has been exceptional all year long, and Galica is a big reason why. Behind her success in the circle, the Cavaliers have posted the 13th-highest draw control percentage in the country at 58.9%. Against James Madison — who is the third-best faceoff unit — Virginia gathered 18 of the 29 draw controls.
Weakness
Protecting the net. The Cavaliers’ explosive attacking unit has overshadowed the team’s woes in goal. Starter Mel Josephson and the two other keepers utilized this season have all struggled to make saves. Virginia has one of the worst save percentages (41.64%) in the ACC and conceded double-digit goals in five consecutive games.
Three things to watch
1. Renewed rivalry. The former ACC foes haven’t played each other since 2022, one of the longest droughts of the series. After winning seven of the first 13 meetings, Maryland has controlled the last 15 encounters. However, LaMonica will have something to say about that, as she looks to snap the winless streak in her first meeting in charge of the Cavaliers.
2. Which underclassmen group steps up? Both Maryland and Virginia have brought in multiple of talented recruits recently, and this year’s rosters showcase that. The Terps have relied at times on their youth to contribute, while the Cavaliers’ whole offense revolves around their second-year players.
3. Historic powerhouses. Lacrosse has blossomed in the DMV, which is why these two programs have been consistent national threats. Maryland and Virginia have combined for 75 NCAA Tournament appearances and 17 national championships. Both look destined to make some noise once again.