The Terps six-game win streak was snapped Saturday.
No. 3 Northwestern has had No. 4 Maryland women’s lacrosse’s number recently, winning seven of the last nine meetings. Those struggles were evident immediately Saturday, proving too much for a red-hot Terps’ squad to handle.
After Northwestern attacker Madison Taylor controlled the opening faceoff, the Wildcats wasted no time asserting their dominance. Sophie Halus committed Maryland’s first foul of the game, leading to a free-position look. The Wildcats made her pay. Attacker Niki Miles charged at goalie JJ Suriano and rifled it into the back of the net, handing Northwestern a lead.
That was the closest the Terps got and the start of an offensive onslaught from Northwestern. Eight first-quarter goals dug Maryland into a deficit it couldn’t overcome, falling 16-4 Saturday in Evanston, Illinois.
The Terps have had slow starts at times this season, including in their season-opening loss to No. 6 Syracuse. However, Maryland generated its lowest first-quarter output of the season, mustering up one goal from Kori Edmondson.
The Terps’ faceoff unit was also outmatched in the opening minutes. Maryland lost the first four draw controls of the contest and the Wildcats converted. Before they even had their first offensive possession, the Terps trailed 4-0. Braces from Miles and attacker Riley Campbell fueled Northwestern’s offense early on.
In Suriano’s toughest test of the season, she looked outmatched. The sophomore goaltender recorded just three saves in opening period on the 14 shots she faced. But Maryland’s defense didn’t help her out much, collecting 15 first-half fouls that resulted in 12 free-position opportunities — which the Wildcats converted into four goals.
Northwestern’s elite ball movement and high-powered offense couldn’t be contained either. The Wildcats entered the game averaging 16.8 goals per contest, the fourth-best mark in the country. They were on pace to shatter that number, showing no signs of slowing down.
Northwestern’s attacking production came from different players. Taylor — Northwestern’s top scorer — was held scoreless in the opening 34 minutes. The junior leads the country this season with 5.6 goals per game. She finished with just two goals on 10 shots.
It was Campbell, a graduate student in her first season with the Wildcats, who shouldered the scoring load. She notched a hat trick in the opening quarter and scored an efficient four goals on her five shots.
Northwestern’s physicality also gave the Terps fits. They committed 21 turnovers, tying their tally from earlier this season and hindering their ability to get looks on goal.
Wildcats’ goalie Delaney Sweitzer was crucial in holding the Terps’ offense in check. The graduate student leads the country with a 48.7% save percentage. However, Sweitzer nearly matched her season-high in that regard. She ended with an 63.6% save percentage, gathering seven saves.
Maryland’s top scorers — Edmondson, Jordyn Lipkin, Shelby Sullivan, Maisy Clevenger and Kate Sites — have combined for 69 of the team’s 94 goals this season. However, they were held to just three goals combined.
The lone bright spot was the Terps’ draw control unit. After only securing four of the first 10 faceoffs, Maryland collected 10 of the final 13. Edmondson led the charge with a team-high six draw controls. Still, the Terps were unable to convert on these extra possessions, finishing with a season-low four goals.
Three things to know
1. First road loss of the season. After picking up consecutive road wins over then-No. 12 James Madison and Penn State, Maryland moved to 2-1 away from College Park. The Terps’ next road game comes on March 31 at No. 16 Penn.
2. Six-game winning streak snapped. Maryland gained some momentum after losing its first game of the season. However, the Terps met their match Saturday. Northwestern proved why it was last season’s NCAA Tournament runner-up and a contender to bring home the title come May.
3. Looking ahead. Maryland doesn’t have much time to dwell on this loss before its next game. The Terps return home on March 27 to take on newly-added Big Ten foe Oregon in the programs’ first-ever meeting.