After breezing through non-conference play with relative ease, No. 3 Maryland women’s lacrosse is about to get its first taste of Big Ten competition.
The Terps are coming off a clean 13-6 win over James Madison that saw attacker Kristen Shanahan score a career-high six goals off the back of an impressive defensive showing. The victory rounded out Maryland’s seventh straight win, giving the Terps their best start since 2022.
“I am just having a really fun time. I love this group,” head coach Cathy
Reese said. “They’re fun, their energy is great, they’re positive, they’re encouraging, they’re great teammates.”
After a weeklong break, the Terps’ recharged energy will face its first conference test against Oregon. The Ducks are coming off a commanding 15-1 win over Kent State and look to improve in their second year in the Big Ten.
Saturday’s game will begin at 3 p.m. in Eugene, Oregon, and will stream on Big Ten Plus.
Oregon Ducks (6-2, 0-0 Big Ten)
2025 record: 6-10, 0-8 Big Ten
It has been a difficult three years under head coach Jessica Drummond, with the Ducks having a combined 2-13 conference record in the last two years. Oregon entered Big Ten play last season with a 6-2 record, before going on to lose all eight of its conference opponents. Going into Saturday and this year’s Big Ten slate, the Ducks have an identical record.
Maryland and Oregon played for the first time in late March last season, with the former coming out on top in a 16-4 demolition of the latter’s defense. It marked the Terps’ largest margin of victory of the entire season.
Players to watch
Anna Simmons, senior midfielder, No. 30 — If there was a blueprint for what it means to be a two-way midfielder, Simmons fits the mold. The Senior leads Oregon with 17 goals, 22 points and 42 draw controls. Simmons also leads the Ducks in major defensive categories with 15 caused turnovers and 18 groundballs, making it more than clear who the best and most well-rounded player on their roster is.
Emma Ing, redshirt senior attacker, No. 20 — Ing has proven to be an excellent second option for Oregon this season. The attacker’s 15 goals and 20 points both rank second for the Ducks, as her primary duty is to take some of the weight off of Simmons’ shoulders. Her four game-winning goals have proved crucial in late-game scenarios for Oregon.
Gabby Santucci, junior attacker, No. 12 — After missing the bulk of 2025 due to injury, Santucci is getting her first real chance to shine. The junior is one of the few consistent starters on the roster, opening seven of Oregon’s eight games while scoring 11 goals on 31 total shots.
Strength
Pre-shot defense. Early this season, the Ducks have been at their best when defending outside the arc. Oregon ranks in the top half of the Big Ten in both caused turnovers (9.9) and ground balls (15.8) per game — both those metrics are crucial due to the team’s revolving door dilemma between the posts.
Weakness
Lineup inconsistency. The Ducks have struggled to find consistent starters on both sides of the ball. Only nine players have started in 75% or more of Oregon’s games, as Drummond has played around with a plethora of different lineup combinations over its last eight games.
Three things to watch
1. Will travel play a role? Maryland’s 2,818-mile trip to Oregon will mark one of the furthest journeys in team history. The Terps struggled in their nailbiting 17-15 win over Saint Joseph’s despite a short commute, and they could suffer from fatigue and tired legs after a long flight.
2. Conference opener. The Terps haven’t lost their conference play opener since falling to Penn State to start 2021’s abbreviated season. With five Big Ten teams sitting in the top 25 nationally, performance in conference play will likely be a solid predictor for performance in the NCAA Tournament.
3. Can Lauren LaPointe keep it up? The junior attacker has been Maryland’s best scorer this season, netting 3.1 goals per game over the course of nonconference play. The Terps will play four of their seven ranked opponents during Big Ten play, and each of those defenses will further test LaPointe’s ability to find windows from the X.
