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College lacrosse preview: Maryland women’s rebuilding is others’ reloading College lacrosse preview: Maryland women’s rebuilding is others’ reloading
(about 2 hours later)
Maryland women’s lacrosse Coach Cathy Reese has just five returning starters from last year’s national championship team, and she found herself calming down the group during a fall practice last September. The core of veterans was almost overwhelmed by the amount of new faces on the field, confused at how everything was going to come together after the program graduated 11 players. Maryland women’s lacrosse Coach Cathy Reese has just five returning starters from last year’s national championship team, and she found herself calming down the group during a fall practice last September. The core of veterans was almost overwhelmed by the number of new faces on the field, confused at how everything was going to come together after the program had graduated 11 players.
“It’s new! It’s okay!” Reese told them at that point, knowing that if Maryland is going to win a third straight national title this spring, it will have to do so with an entirely different look. “It’s new! It’s okay!” Reese told them at that point, knowing that if Maryland was going to win a third straight national title this spring, it would have to do so with an entirely different look.
Not that expectations are diminished for the Terrapins. They open the season ranked No. 1 nationally in both the Inside Lacrosse and Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association polls . They will still have the centerpiece of the team in senior Taylor Cummings, who is already one of the most decorated players in school history, and a stable of experienced returners including all-American senior defender Alice Mercer, junior defender Nadine Hadnagy, junior midfielder Zoe Stukenberg and sophomore forward Megan Whittle.Not that expectations are diminished for the Terrapins. They open the season ranked No. 1 nationally in both the Inside Lacrosse and Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association polls . They will still have the centerpiece of the team in senior Taylor Cummings, who is already one of the most decorated players in school history, and a stable of experienced returners including all-American senior defender Alice Mercer, junior defender Nadine Hadnagy, junior midfielder Zoe Stukenberg and sophomore forward Megan Whittle.
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That group has started a combined 239 career games, but no other player on the roster has ever started a game for Maryland.That group has started a combined 239 career games, but no other player on the roster has ever started a game for Maryland.
“We have a lot of work to do,” Reese said. “I think we’re definitely going to have some hiccups this season. But we have a lot of potential and a lot of room to grow.”“We have a lot of work to do,” Reese said. “I think we’re definitely going to have some hiccups this season. But we have a lot of potential and a lot of room to grow.”
The Maryland women’s team is scheduled to open its season Sunday at 1 p.m. against William and Mary at the Field Hockey & Lacrosse Complex in College Park. The game was originally scheduled for Saturday but was postponed by cold and inclement weather. The men’s team, which has advanced to the Final Four four times in the past five seasons, also rescheduled its season opener at Maryland Stadium. Their game against Navy (1-1) was moved to April 19. The Maryland women’s team is scheduled to open its season Sunday at 1 p.m. against William and Mary at the Field Hockey & Lacrosse Complex in College Park. The game was originally scheduled for Saturday but was postponed by cold and inclement weather. The men’s team, which has advanced to the Final Four four times in the past five seasons, also rescheduled its season opener at Maryland Stadium. Its game against Navy (1-1) was moved to April 19.
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The Terps women face plenty of questions with seven new positions open in the starting lineup. They must replace all-Americans Megan Douty, Brooke Griffin and Kelly McPartland with a largely inexperienced roster comprising 16 freshman and sophomores, as well as a group of talented upperclassmen who were highly touted prospects in high school and have waited in the wings for their opportunity. The Terps women face plenty of questions with seven new positions open in the starting lineup. They must replace all-Americans Megan Douty, Brooke Griffin and Kelly McPartland with a largely inexperienced roster comprising 16 freshmen and sophomores, as well as a group of talented upperclassmen who were highly touted prospects in high school and have waited in the wings for their opportunity.
Junior Morgan Torggler, the former Severna Park High standout, has played in 24 career games as a reserve but is expected to start after moving to defense from the midfield. Junior Alex McKay (seven career appearances) will join Torggler in the back end, while senior Bryn Boucher (34 career appearances) will bolster the midfield. Junior Morgan Torggler, the former Severna Park High standout, has played in 24 career games as a reserve but is expected to start after moving from the midfield to defense. Junior Alex McKay (seven career appearances) will join Torggler in the back end, while senior Bryn Boucher (34 career appearances) will bolster the midfield.
Maryland also has a promising attacker in junior Caroline Wannen, who starred at Blake High before arriving in College Park in 2013. While she could’ve chosen to attend other schools and receive playing time right away, she chose a more difficult challenge by joining a loaded roster in College Park. Maryland had seven returning starters before winning the title in 2014, then brought back all 10 starters before last season’s repeat. Maryland also has a promising attacker in junior Caroline Wannen, who starred at Blake High before arriving in College Park in 2013. While she could have chosen to attend other schools and receive playing time right away, she chose a more difficult challenge by joining a loaded roster in College Park. Maryland had seven returning starters before winning the title in 2014, then brought back all 10 starters before last season’s repeat.
“It’s crazy to just come into college and play against such great competition on your own team. My freshman and sophomore year, our team was amazing . . . playing against them and kind of improving my game the last two years has been really, really helpful,” said Wannen, who played in 11 games as a reserve last year. “I know for myself as well as the other girls getting out there for one of their first times getting playing time, we’re just all so eager to get out there and work together.” “It’s crazy to just come into college and play against such great competition on your own team,” said Wannen, who played in 11 games as a reserve last year. “My freshman and sophomore year, our team was amazing. . . . Playing against them and kind of improving my game the last two years has been really, really helpful,” I know for myself as well as the other girls getting out there for one of their first times getting playing time, we’re just all so eager to get out there and work together.”
The schedule is also daunting. Maryland has 10 ranked opponents on its slate, five of which it will meet before April 1. That includes road tests at No. 2 North Carolina (Feb. 27), No. 3 Syracuse (March 12) and No. 8 Florida (March 19) before opening up Big Ten Conference play on March 31 against No. 4 Northwestern in College Park.The schedule is also daunting. Maryland has 10 ranked opponents on its slate, five of which it will meet before April 1. That includes road tests at No. 2 North Carolina (Feb. 27), No. 3 Syracuse (March 12) and No. 8 Florida (March 19) before opening up Big Ten Conference play on March 31 against No. 4 Northwestern in College Park.
“Who’s going to deny that a Maryland-Carolina game isn’t fun?” said Cummings of the former ACC rival Tar Heels, whom Maryland rallied to beat in the national championship last May. “I think that’s something we’re really excited about. But we do a really good job of focusing. We’re going to go 1-0 23 times, or least that’s our goal.”“Who’s going to deny that a Maryland-Carolina game isn’t fun?” said Cummings of the former ACC rival Tar Heels, whom Maryland rallied to beat in the national championship last May. “I think that’s something we’re really excited about. But we do a really good job of focusing. We’re going to go 1-0 23 times, or least that’s our goal.”
On the surface, Cummings has little left to accomplish in her final season. She has already served as the centerpiece on two national championship teams, been nominated for an ESPY and last May became the youngest two-time winner of the Tewaaraton Award, given annually to the country’s top player. Cummings led the country in points (100) a year ago was the team leader in assists (37), groundballs (41), draw controls (143) and caused turnovers (36). On the surface, Cummings has little left to accomplish. She has already served as the centerpiece on two national championship teams, been nominated for an ESPY and last May became the youngest two-time winner of the Tewaaraton Award, given annually to the country’s top player. Cummings led the country in points (100) a year ago and was the team leader in assists (37), groundballs (41), draw controls (143) and caused turnovers (36).
But while she is already considered the country’s top player, she is also facing one of the more difficult tasks of her career as a senior. Reese has relied on Cummings, as well as the other four starters, to set the tone for a team that is scrambling to fill new roles while facing the same expectations. But while she is already considered the country’s top player, she is also, as a senior, facing one of the more difficult tasks of her career. Reese has relied on Cummings, as well as the other four starters, to set the tone for a team that is scrambling to fill new roles while facing the same expectations.
“As a player, it’s definitely new,” Cummings said. “I think we’ve just done a really good job of coming together as a team, coming together as a group and making this season special before it’s really even begun.”“As a player, it’s definitely new,” Cummings said. “I think we’ve just done a really good job of coming together as a team, coming together as a group and making this season special before it’s really even begun.”