No. 3 Maryland women’s lacrosse has had a season full of ranked opponents and nailbiter victories. But on Wednesday, the Terps got a much-needed break against Hofstra
Maryland opened up a 7-1 lead early in the first half and never relinquished it. Attacker Lauren LaPointe was the star of the show for the Terps, contributing to half of its goals as it took down the Pride, 16-9.
“Sometimes she’s got four goals a game. I think she can have eight…” head coach Cathy Reese said. “She hasn’t hit her ceiling
yet either, so she’s gonna be a fun player to watch this season.”
The Shell will welcome Maryland back as they host James Madison in a quick turnaround game. The Dukes got off to a rough start, but look to regain momentum against one of the nation’s top units.
The game will begin on Saturday at 12 p.m. in SECU Stadium and stream on Big Ten Plus.
James Madison Dukes (2-3, 0-0 American Athletic Conference)
2025 record: 14-5, 6-0 American Athletic Conference
Reese and James Madison head coach Shelley Klaes both began coaching at their respective schools in 2007, and have battled many times throughout their careers. The Terps and Dukes have played 18 times during that span, with Maryland winning 15 of those contests.
“They’re going to come out and throw us something a little bit different from the way that they play defense in their zones. And offensively, they’re gonna go hard to goal,” head coach Cathy Reese said.
James Madison captured its first national title in program history in 2018, just before Maryland seized it the following year. Since then, both teams have failed to reach the championship game.
Players to watch
Jordan Peterson, senior attacker, No. 18 — In her first year as a starter, Peterson has burst onto the scene as James Madison’s premier goalscorer. The senior leads the Dukes with 12 goals and 26 total shots after riding the bench for three straight years. She is also the primary option on free position opportunities, but has had limited success.
Payton Root, sophomore attacker, No. 33 — Root has been another surprise for the Dukes this season and has been their biggest offensive producer. The attacker posts a team-leading 21 points and 13 assists without starting a game. However, her lack of playing time may be the result of subpar cradling, as the sophomore also leads James Madison with 15 turnovers — six more than the next highest player.
Olivia Rongo, senior defender, No. 19 — In her first season as a consistent starter, Rongo has proven to be the heart and soul of James Madison’s backline. Leading the squad in both caused turnovers (12) and ground balls (18), the senior has been the leader of an extremely proficient defensive lineup.
Strength
Defensive strongarming. The Dukes are by far the AAC’s strongest backline group. James Madison leads the conference with 18.2 ground balls per game and 10.6 caused turnovers per game. Maryland’s renowned attack will face one of its toughest matchups yet trying to fluster this defense.
Weakness
Goalkeeping. However, when the Terps are able to get shots off, they are exceedingly likely to find the net. Goalkeeper Abigail Beattie has been less than reliable in her first year starting, only saving 37.3% of shots on frame. She has also been pulled multiple times for junior Emily Evans, who has been equally inconsistent.
Three things to watch
1. Battle of veteran coaches. With nearly half a century of head coaching experience between the two of them, Saturday’s matchup between Reese and Klaes will likely show off both of their tactical skills. Reese’s priority is preparing her players for the quick turnaround after their win on Wednesday.
“We’ve had a lot of really tough opponents that we’ve faced so far, and know that our future schedule holds the same,” Reese said. “So just trying to keep our focus on us, and what we need you to get better.”
2. Can the Dukes stop LaPointe? The junior has looked nearly unstoppable this season, averaging 3.2 goals per game. Reese’s offensive scheming will likely center around placing LaPointe in windows that play to her advantage.
“She’s a great dodger, good feeder, great quick release…as she continues to gain more experience and more confidence, she’s the one running our offense from behind,” Reese said.
3. Type-1 awareness game. Saturday’s matchup will feature several videos and promotions relating to Type-1 diabetes awareness. The yearly tradition has raised over $50,000 and started in 2015 after Reese’s son, Riley, was diagnosed with Type-1 two years prior. Maryland veterans Kennedy Major and Kayla Gilmore also have Type-1.
