No. 6 Maryland women’s lacrosse dominates No. 12 Virginia, 17-9

With snow covering half of the bleachers and a midday start on Valentine’s Day, No. 6 Maryland women’s lacrosse’s matchup with No. 12 Virginia was anything but alluring for fans. But the rivalry clash proved to be one that many fans will regret missing.

Kori Edmonson and Jordyn Lipkin led the offensive charge, and combined with strong efforts from transfer attackers Keely Block and Kristen Shanahan, the Terps cruised past the Cavaliers, 17-9, in a lopsided Saturday matinee.

The Terps drew first blood within just 47 seconds as Lexi Dupcak finished a chance following an opening draw control from Kayla Gilmore.

Virginia started stagnant on offense. Loading three attackers behind the goal line on each possession spread their midfielders to thin in the passing lanes, resulting in three turnovers in the first eight minutes.

The moment the positioning changed, the results did, too. The Cavaliers introduced a more spread-out concept with six minutes left in the quarter, allowing Addi Foster to crash on net and tie the game.

After being shut out last game, Maryland’s midfield captains finally broke through. Edmondson and Lipkin notched their first scores of the season within minutes of each other, both on powerful blasts from distance.

Shanahan then added on to her three-assist opening quarter with a free position score of her own to make it three goals on the season.

Virginia claimed possession for most of the first two minutes of the second quarter, resulting in a no-angle netter from Madison Alaimo cutting the lead to two.

Lauren LaPointe grabbed her sixth goal of the year four minutes into the second frame, but twin missiles from Livy LaVerghetta and Jenna DiNardo minutes later closed the gap to one.

Maryland’s defense didn’t close gaps effectively all quarter, allowing much better looks for Virginia than it did in the season opener. The Terps only caused three turnovers before halftime.

As the quarter came to a close, the teams traded blow after blow. Dupcak found the net on a backhanded snipe, but another goal from DiNardo cut Maryland’s lead back down to a single goal.

Edmondson and Lipkin then added on scores with two minutes left before Alaimo and Block traded netters in the final thirty seconds.

Just when the half seemed sealed, Edmondson secured her hat trick with three seconds left, bringing the score to a chaotic 10-6 at the half.

Shanahan silently made herself the hero of the half, dishing out six assists — that’s more than the Terps had in the entirety of their last game. Meanwhile, Maryland was uncharacteristically dominant in the draw circle, snagging 12 of 15 draw controls in the half.

The Terps continued to pile on. Ava Meyn and Lipkin found nylon in the first five minutes of the half — Meyn twice — to push the lead to seven goals.

“She’s really good at finishing the ball from low,” said Block on Meyn’s ability. “She doesn’t play like a freshman.”

Virginia typically starts Mel Josephson in goal before pulling her at the half for Elyse Finnelle. But Finnelle got the start Saturday and played the whole game, but was clearly not the answer the Cavaliers needed.

Despite letting up a score from Foster with seven minutes left, Maryland wouldn’t find itself in any trouble. Block notched her second of the game just two minutes later. Edmondson then added on yet another goal, this time from a free position, for Maryland’s 15th score.

Where Maryland’s success came on quick possessions, Virginia’s failures came from drawn-out set plays where aggressive drives were hard to come by.

A score from Gilmore outside the arc followed by DiNardo’s hat trick-sealer kept the lead at eight goals entering the final 10 minutes of play. Another free position dart from Alaimo two minutes later secured her first hat trick of 2026.

Block weaved her way through Virginia’s backline and fired a rocket for a hat trick of her own with less than three minutes left. As the jumbotron flashed zeros, the Cavaliers couldn’t get out of the Shell fast enough.

“We have a lot of room to grow, a lot of areas to get better,” said head coach Cathy Reese. “But I like where we are right now.

Three things to know

1. Complete 180 in the circle. Against Syracuse, the Terps looked shaky controlling the draw, but they completely turned it around Saturday. Maryland secured 18 of 26 draw controls, which led to the high offensive volume in Saturday’s rout.

2. Guess who’s back. After failing to score in the season opener, Edmondson and Lipkin were everywhere against the Cavaliers. The pair combined for seven goals, and Edmondson controlled five draws that provided a huge spark on offense.

3. Transfer twins. Block and Shanahan have proven to be crucial additions for an already-loaded Maryland roster. Block scored her first hat trick as a Terp, while Shanahan shuttled six pinpoint assists on her way to a seven-point outing.

“It’s easy to be an assister…so I love giving everybody the ball,” Shanahan said. “And watching Keely on her first goal too, assisting that I think is awesome.”

from Testudo Times https://ift.tt/30sztb4