The Terps look to bounce back after their loss to then-No. 6 Syracuse.
No. 9 Maryland women’s lacrosse (0-1) could not imagine a worse start to its 2025 campaign. While it is still figuring out rotations and what role its 13 new pieces will play, it never looked competitive at home against then-No. 6 Syracuse, falling 15-9.
The Terps trailed by just two goals after the first quarter, but it all went downhill from there. Heading into the fourth quarter, Maryland found itself in a seven-goal deficit with the game well out of reach.
To make matters worse, neither goalie head coach Cathy Reese inserted into the game found much success. JJ Suriano and Julia Ward combined for four saves on 19 shots on goal. However, the Terps did have two more shots and one more on goal than Syracuse.
“Everything out there is something that we can change,” midfielder Kori Edmondson said after the loss. “We can show up in Georgetown and be a whole new different [team], right. So, as long as we take that and we carry on to the next game and we just don’t dwell on this game, then we’ll be perfectly fine.”
Maryland now embarks on a much easier stretch, facing three straight unranked opponents. Georgetown arrives in College Park on Tuesday looking for its first win against the Terps since 2006. The match will start at 4:30 p.m. and stream on Big Ten Plus.
Georgetown Hoyas (1-1, 0-0 Big East)
2024 record: 7-11, 4-2 Big East
Head coach Caitlyn Phipps enters her first season at the helm, replacing long-time head coach Ricky Fried. Phipps has big shoes to fill, as Fried guided the Hoyas to nine NCAA Tournament appearances in his 20 years.
However, last year was another step in the wrong direction for a struggling Georgetown program. It tallied consecutive losing seasons for the first time in nearly a decade, finishing with a 7-11 record.
The Hoyas opened the season with a dominant 12-5 win over American, before falling in a triple-overtime thriller to Towson, 10-9.
Players to watch
Gracie Driggs, junior attacker, No. 2 — Driggs has seen an increased offensive involvement throughout her time at Georgetown. She has taken full advantage of her new role, recording a team-high 38 goals and earning a spot on the All-Big East second team last season. Driggs has continued this success, notching braces in both games.
Maley Starr, senior midfielder, No. 6 — Starr is fresh off a breakout junior campaign and her best all-around season. She was named to the All-Big East second team, registering 25 goals, nine assists, a team-high 20 caused turnovers and 28 groundballs. Starr has been even better this season, leading the team with five points (three goals and two assists).
Leah Warehime, senior goalkeeper, No. 40 — The No. 2-ranked goalie and No. 21-ranked recruit in the class of 2021 has dealt with enormous expectations since arriving on campus. But she has delivered, finishing third in the Big East with 6.9 saves per game and 11.4 goals allowed last season. She secured an All-Big East second-team honor.
Strength
Scoring defense. While they’ve played just two games — all coming against lesser competition — the Hoyas’ defense has looked even better than they did last season. After holding teams to slightly over 11 goals a game, the third-best mark in the Big East, they’ve allowed the 19th-fewest goals in the country (7.5).
Weakness
Close games. Despite enduring another sub-.500 season, Georgetown played much better than its record would suggest. The Hoyas lost by a combined three goals against Johns Hopkins and Denver, two NCAA Tournament teams. Over the past five seasons, they’ve gone 5-16 in games decided by two goals or less, including its lone loss this year.
Three things to watch
1. In-state reunion. While it will be the 33rd meeting between these programs, this one will be unique. Georgetown’s new coaching staff features three Maryland alumni. Phipps spent 16 combined seasons as an assistant coach and player for the Terps. Alice Johns (2013-16) and Eloise Clevenger (2021-2024) also both played for the program.
2. Youthful faceoff unit. Reese deployed two freshmen — Shelby Sullivan and Kayla Gilmore — in the faceoff circle. The duo combined for 11 of the Terps’ 16 draw controls, helping the team win 57.1% of these battles. However, the Hoyas boast the 17th-best mark in the country (61%). This young unit will be tested again.
3. Home-field woes. Reese boasts an incredible 183-17 record at home in her 19 seasons, making the Terps’ recent struggles in College Park that much more evident. Maryland has won just five of its past 12 home games. Its next three contests at home.