The Terps will face Northwestern Sunday.
The lights looked too bright for No. 2-seed Maryland women’s lacrosse goalie JJ Suriano in its Big Ten Tournament quarterfinal matchup on Wednesday. The sophomore managed six saves and conceded 11 goals for her lowest save percentage in seven contests.
Those doubts were quickly eliminated with a championship berth on the line against No. 3-seed Michigan.
The Wolverines — who exploded for a near season-high 20 goals against USC last time out — were held in check for large spells on Friday. After the Terps’ lead dwindled down to two with just over eight minutes left in the third period, Suriano came to the rescue.
Behind Suriano’s five-save third-quarter performance, Michigan was held scoreless for the ensuing 10 minutes of play, allowing Maryland to grow its lead to four. The Terps ultimately secured a 13-10 victory in the Big Ten Tournament semifinals Friday in College Park.
“I think as the season’s gone on, I’ve just begun to trust myself more with what my coaches give me with all the film that I watch and just overall simplifying the position,” Suriano said. “I’m kind of leaning back, letting the game come to me and just playing it more simple and trusting my ability.”
The victory seals their matchup with top-seed Northwestern on Sunday.
Kate Sites tied her career-high with four goals in Maryland’s first meeting earlier this season against Michigan. The graduate student made quick work of the Terps’ first possession, scoring just seven seconds after crossing into the attacking zone.
However, the storyline early on was the absence of Wolverines’ typical starting goalkeeper Erin O’Grady. The Tewaaraton Award Nominee — who sits second in the country with a 54% save percentage — was pulled midway through Michigan’s Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals matchup. She didn’t appear at all in Friday’s contest.
Her replacement, graduate student Maya Santa-Maria, made just two starts this season entering the game. Santa-Maria conceded three goals against USC on Wednesday in her relief appearance.
But Maryland’s attack capitalized immediately, taking a commanding three-goal lead just over five minutes into the game.
While Maryland’s offensive output came from a plethora of weapons in the opening half, Michigan relied heavily on Kaylee Dyer and Julia Schwabe to wipe away a 3-0 deficit. The duo accounted for the Wolverines’ first three goals to tie the game heading into the second quarter.
Despite the Terps’ opening up the ensuing period with two quick scores, Michigan wouldn’t go away. The Wolverines responded in a one-minute span, notching goals on back-to-back possessions.
Kori Edmondson produced 10 goals in the Terps’ prior three contests and has been a reliable attacking option, particularly in free-position looks. It was Edmondson’s physicality that generated quality looks against the Wolverines, though. She posted a first-half brace, handing Maryland a one-goal advantage late in the second quarter.
And the Terps would take an 8-6 lead into halftime, as Sites’ second tally of the game wrapped up a five-goal second quarter outburst.
“I’m really proud of this group. This has been a really emotional season and a lot of fun,” head coach Cathy Reese said. “I think these guys have really embraced every challenge thrown at them.”
After being held to one tally in the opening half, Jordyn Lipkin fueled Maryland’s offense in the third quarter. The senior erupted for two quick scores helping the Terps restore their three-goal lead.
But Lipkin’s fourth tally was the most important one of the game. As the momentum began to shift away from Maryland early in the final period and Lexi Dupcak’s free-position shot sailed over the frame, Lipkin provided some late-game heroics.
Chrissy Thomas fed the ball to an unmarked Lipkin right around the net, who fired the shot past Santa-Maria and pushed the Terps back up three goals.
That would be the final goal of the game with both squads being held scoreless in the remaining 11 minutes.
Three things to know
1. Lauren LaPointe erupts for a hat trick. Maryland has required Edmondson and Lipkin to shoulder a heavy load of its offense recently, as it looks for a consistent third option. LaPointe was that player on Friday, producing her second consecutive three-goal performance.
“She’s been kind of a really versatile player for us,” head coach Cathy Reese said. “She’s been playing behind, she’s been playing up top, she’s all over the place. I love how she’s really embraced that role and embraced every opportunity she’s had with the ball.”
2. Suriano’s bounce-back performance. Every rookie has their fair share of ups-and-downs throughout the season, and for Suriano, that has been no different. But the first-year starter rose to the occasion, containing a high-powered Michigan attack. Suriano tied her career-high with 13 saves, including vital stops in the third quarter.
3. A chance for vengeance. While it was by no means comfortable, the Terps’ victory on Friday moved it to 9-1 in Big Ten play. That lone loss came to the top-seed Northwestern on March 22, falling 16-4. Maryland will have a chance to get revenge on Sunday, as it hopes to garner its fifth conference tournament championship title.