Maryland sails off with Big Ten title
Terps women dominate in second half to defeat No. 13 Rutgers 18-8
Here’s a roundup of college lacrosse action from around the state:
Division I women
No. 3 Maryland 18, No. 13 Rutgers 8: The top-seeded Terps outscored the host Scarlet Knights 11-1 in the second half to secure their fourth Big Ten Tournament championship and first since 2018.
The Terps (17-1) head into the NCAA Tournament as the No. 3 ranked team in the nation. The NCAA Tournament bracket was to be revealed on Sunday night on ESPNU. The first round of the tournament begins May 13.
Maryland’s win is also the 300th for coach Cathy Reese. The Maryland alumna has a 300-33 career record in her 16 years leading the program, including 22 conference championships and five national titles.
“What a day for the Terps. I am so proud of my group,” Reese said. “We started a little slow and hesitant all over the field in the first half, credit to Rutgers for coming out strong. I am really pleased with how we came out in the second half. Defensively we were all over the place, we were excellent on the draw control and offensively we shared the ball really well, found some good openings and shot the ball really well in the second half.”
Aurora Cordingley totaled nine points Sunday, scoring four goals and adding five assists. Libby May netted five goals and also collected an assist, while Eloise Clevenger had a pair of goals and four assists.
Abby Bosco won nine draws, Shaylan Ahearn won seven and Shannon Smith controlled four. Emily Sterling made four saves.
Taralyn Naslonski led Rutgers (15-4) with three goals.
After entering halftime tied at 7, May, Clevenger and Hannah Leubecker scored over the first 3:20 of the third quarter to give the Terps a 10-7 lead. Maryland increased its advantage to 15-7 by the end of the quarter and went ahead 17-7 before Rutgers finally found the back of the net with 5:25 left in the fourth quarter.
Drexel 11, Towson 10, OT: Allison Drake scored 47 seconds into overtime to lift the
host Dragons (12-7) over the top-seeded Tigers (9-8) for the program’s first Colonial Athletic Association Tournament title.
Towson rallied from an 8-3 first-half deficit to send the game into overtime, scoring four of the final five goals in regulation and holding Drexel scoreless in the fourth quarter. Kerri Thornton’s goal with 2:31 left in the fourth quarter tied the game at 10, and Tigers goalie Carly Merlo (11 saves) made a crucial stop on a free-position shot with less than a minute left.
Halley Koras scored three goals and Milana Zizakovic and Kerri Liucci each added two to lead Towson, which was seeking its first CAA Tournament championship
since 2016 and fifth NCAA Tournament appearance in the past six years.
Lucy Schneidereith, a former Towson High standout, scored four goals to lead Drexel.
Division II women
Notre Dame (Ohio) 17, Frostburg State 15: Emileigh Scott scored seven goals to lift the top-seeded Falcons (10-6) over the visiting Bobcats in the Mountain East Conference Tournament championship game.
Lilly Stephens and Kerri Hayes each scored four goals for Frostburg State (10-7), which trailed 16-10 with eight minutes left
KIM HAIRSTON/BALTIMORE SUN
before rallying to within two, 17-15, with 1:51 remaining on a goal by Stephanie King.
Division III men
York 15, Stevenson 13: Eric Ranck had three goals and two assists to help the host and top-seeded Spartans (17-2) beat the Mustangs (13-6) in the Middle Atlantic Conference Commonwealth Tournament championship game Saturday night.
Shane Ford had four goals and an assist for Stevenson, which rallied to take a 12-11 lead with 10:25 to go on a goal by Josh Brannan before York responded by scoring four of the final five goals.