Dominant. Any questions concerning how the Maryland women’s lacrosse team would fare in its first year after the graduation of the most decorated player in history continue to fade into irrelevance as on a sunny frigid Saturday at the Field Hockey and Lacrosse Complex in College Park, the most dominant program in women’s lacrosse continued to be just that running over, around and through the fifth ranked Syracuse Orange to a 17-7 win. The win improved Maryland’s record to 6-0 and was the Terps’ second win over a top five opponent this season.
Dominant. Five years. March 10, 2012. This is the last time the Terrapins lost at home. Maryland won its 54th consecutive home game Saturday and improved to 108-2 at home under head coach Cathy Reese.
Dominant. Syracuse 10 Maryland 9. This was the final score of that game five years and one day ago. Since then, Maryland has won nine consecutive games over the Orange – four of which have come on championship weekend – and Saturday’s win increased the Terps’ all-time record against Syracuse to 21-1.
Dominant. Megan Whittle. In a week of dominant offensive performances, Maryland’s junior attacker, one of three Terps on the Tewaaraton Award watch list, scored seven goals Saturday afternoon. Toss in her first half assist on a goal by freshman Kali Hartshorn and Whittle alone accounted for enough Maryland scores to register the win. Whittle became the third Terrapin this week to register at least eight points in a game joining Caroline Wannen (5 g; 3a) and Zoe Stukenberg (5g; 4a) who accomplished the feat in Wednesday’s 21-13 win over Boston College.
Dominant. Megan Taylor. Maryland’s sophomore goalie entered the game with a .529 save percentage that was good enough for tenth best in the country. Coming off one of her poorer performances against Boston College when she posted only seven saves while allowing 13 goals, Taylor was effectively a wall between the pipes against the Orange finishing with 18 saves on 25 shots and helping hold Syracuse to a nearly unfathomable 1-13 on free positions. Overall, Maryland played stifling defense often frustrating Syracuse and forcing poor shot selection.
Dominant. After Syracuse tied the score at two with 25:12 to play in the first half, the Terps ran off seven consecutive goals while holding the Orange scoreless for 19:40 and taking an 11-4 lead at the half. Syracuse could come no closer than five the rest of the way. After Syracuse closed to 12-7, the Terrapins held the Orange scoreless for the game’s final 15:43 while adding five more goals and starting a running clock for the game’s final 1:43.
As Syracuse coach Gary Gait told the BTN broadcast crew before the game, “I can’t call it a rivalry because we never beat them.” The answer can be found in a single word, Gary. Dominant.
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