No. 7 Maryland Women’s Lacrosse 2022 Season Preview

(Photo courtesy of Maryland Athletics.)

For the first fourth dimension in over 11 months, the Maryland Women's Lacrosse team volition accept the field again. The 2022 schedule was released on Th and the Terps will visit in-state rival Johns Hopkins on Feb 14th for their first matchup of the season.

The 2022 schedule will feature only Big 10 opponents as Maryland will run across Johns Hopkins, Penn Country, Michigan, Ohio State, Northwestern, and Rutgers all twice apiece this flavour.

Caput motorbus Cathy Reese seemed slightly disappointed that her squad would miss out on games against typical out of briefing rivals such as Georgetown and North Carolina, just she is still incredibly eager to get back into playing real games.

"Our team is really excited and really looking forward to having the opportunity to compete," Reese said on Fri. "Whatever paw we're dealt, we'll play."

The Terps were not able to confront off confronting any of those teams last yr earlier the flavor was cut curt due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Reese compared receiving the news that the flavor was being cancelled to "being hit by a truck."

During Maryland'south 2022 National Championship run, only Northwestern was able to defeat the Terps but Maryland avenged that loss in the National Semifinal game.

The Large Ten volition once again be 1 of the strongest lacrosse conferences in the nation. Northwestern (No. 5), Maryland (No. 7), and Michigan (No. nine) all reside in the top 10 of the IWLCA preseason poll and Penn Land (No. 21) is also a top-25 team. The briefing as well has 13 players on Inside Lacrosse's preseason all-american list, including Lizzio Colson (commencement-team), Brindi Griffin (tertiary-squad), and Grace Griffin (honorable mention) from Maryland.

Entering the 2022 season, Maryland will yet be defending the championship that they won in 2022 since no champion was awarded for the 2022 season. Although they have lost a number of key players from that squad, the Terps render one of the strongest rosters in the nation.

They return x of 12 starters, including first-team All-American defender Lizzie Colson. Colson missed the 2022 flavor due to a torn ACL but will be fully healthy inbound 2021, a big heave for the roster.

"Having [Lizzie Colson] back on the field… is something that's been really large for us," Reese said.

Another notable name is third-team All-American attacker Brindi Griffin, who decided to take reward of her actress twelvemonth of eligibility granted past the NCAA and return for her 5th yr at Maryland. Griffin and Colson volition be joined by senior midfielder Grace Griffin as the captains for this twelvemonth's squad.

"For me, information technology was such an easy decision," Brindi Griffin said. "I was waiting to find out if I even had the opportunity to come back so every bit soon every bit I plant out I immediately said yes."

Maryland's 2022 squad is composed of a lot of young talent. 12 freshmen were on the roster last year but played simply six games due to the shortened season. In improver, Reese brought in another 7 freshmen to join the squad this year.

While Reese said last twelvemonth was a rebuilding year of sorts, both her and her veteran players seem excited with the promise the young players evidence.

"We're meshing smashing so far," Brindi Griffin said. "Between [final yr'southward freshman class] and our new freshmen you'd never know they haven't played a higher game still."

The Terps should be a very solid team on the attack this year and volition give teams a lot of trouble with their speed and offensive firepower.

"I'm hoping we're going to be more than of a transition team this year where we're fast and pushing the pace," Reese said. "That'south something I've been really impressed with."

Defense is an area where the team may experience some growing pains, merely the return of Colson will certainly boost the talent of that unit and provide a veteran presence. Last year defense was an area of weakness for the Terps and with and then few games played it'due south tough to gauge how much the team grew and improved in that aspect of the game.

"We need to play other people," Reese said. "I desire u.s.a. to play and see other offenses that do things differently than we do and that have dissimilar strengths."

Goalie is another position that presents some unknowns this flavour. Junior Maddie McSally came on towards the finish of last year's abbreviated flavour, but Reese was not fix to commit to a starter. Sophomore Emily Sterling has also impressed Reese, creating what seems similar an open competition with the possibility of splitting time during flavor games.

There is plenty of optimism and excitement surrounding this year's Maryland lacrosse season equally they get ready to defend their 2022 title. With the season only over a week away, the eagerness to get dorsum on the field is articulate amongst the coaches and the players.

"It feels like we're counting down the days till' Christmas," Grace Griffin said.

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Source: http://wmucsports.net/no-7-maryland-womens-lacrosse-2021-season-preview/

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