Maryland coach Cathy Reese and her players are 21-0 heading to the Final Four against North Carolina in Towson on Friday night.
The Terrapins are shooting for their first NCAA championship game since 2001. They have done so without a senior in the starting lineup and having had to replace eight starters from last year.
“It’s funny the spin that’s been put on Maryland this year, if you go back and read the articles that’ve been written and read about all the stuff about Maryland lacrosse, and ‘there’s only going to be a big three in the ACC and Maryland’s not one of them,’” Reese said after a quarterfinal victory over Syracuse. “We believe in ourselves. It’s okay because we are happy to prove you wrong.”
One of Maryland’s keys has been the captain of the midfield and U.S. National Team member Caitlyn McFadden. The quick midfielder with great dodging ability has been Maryland’s most important player in key games. In the ACC Tournament Final, Maryland was losing to Duke by four goals. McFadden helped spur an 8-1 run, including four goals herself, which was enough for a 12-11 win. She continued that momentum in the victory over Syracuse. She scored two key goals late in the game to secure the 12-10 win.
“I saw my opening, and I knew I could beat my defender. I really wanted to stick it; I hadn’t been sticking my shots in the first half. I was trying to take smarter shots in the second half and really finish them,” McFadden said after the Syracuse game. “I just want to play for our team this year, it’s all about us and all about each other, and I want us all to succeed together. I’m just trying to get that win and get that sparked to keep our team going.”
Many changes had to be made for this year’s team. A new draw control player was needed after Dana Dobbie graduated; she left as the NCAA career draw control leader. (The leader is now Kristen Millar of Vermont.)
In Dobbie’s place stepped Karri Ellen Johnson, a freshman attack, who not only has 69 draw controls, but also leads the team with 70 goals, the highest ever for a Maryland freshman. The Terps also found big time scorers with Sarah Mollison and Laura Merrifield. The offense found sufficient replacements, landing McFadden, Johnson, and Mollison on the Tewaaraton nominee list.
The aspect that everyone has on the field is speed. There are not many powerful players on the field, but everyone is fast. Maryland likes to constantly be running and has a number of players who can score. The Maryland starting lineup has come from all over the place.
The team has the fair share of Maryland-grown talent, including McFadden, Johnson, Amanda Spinnenweber and the entire defensive line. International talent came in with the solid stick skills of Mollison from Australia and Merrifield from England. Two players were brought in from California: Brandi Jones, the top recruit from the west coast two years ago, plus her older sister Brittany, one of the top players from the WDIA.
High School Boys
Monte Vista 12, Amador Valley 7: For the first half it looked as if the fifth-seeded Dons (14-9) might be poised for the upset as they built a 3-2 lead.
First Team
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