No. 3-seed Maryland women’s lacrosse will begin its postseason run Saturday when it hosts No. 6-seed Rutgers in the Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals.

The Terps had a chance to clinch a share of the Big Ten regular-season title — and a top two seed in the conference tournament — when it welcomed Penn State to College Park on April 13, but they instead let an early lead slip en route to a 12-11 defeat.

Meanwhile, after a strong showing last season, Rutgers has faltered this year in Big Ten play. Its only conference win came against Ohio State in overtime.

Saturday’s game is set for 4 p.m. and will stream on Big Ten Plus.

What happened last time

Riding a three-game losing streak, the Scarlet Knights looked for an upset bid against then-No. 2 Maryland in the Big Ten opener. On the flip-side, the Terps were set to take over the No. 1 ranking with a win and did just that — prevailing by a score of 13-8.

The Terps netted six early goals, with Libby May and Hannah Leubecker combining for four of the tallies.

For Rutgers, midfielder Cassidy Spilis did all she could to keep her team in it. She finished the game with a team-high five goals.

However, led by Leubecker’s season-high six goals and a hat trick by May, Maryland pulled away in the fourth quarter to begin conference play on a high note.

What’s happened since

The Terps have struggled down the stretch relative to historical success, dropping three of their final six games.

Despite that, each of their wins victory came against a ranked opponent and they have maintained a top-15 defense nationally.

After its defeat in College Park, Rutgers suffered a fifth straight loss to Northwestern. However, the Scarlet Knights have won two of their last five games, with two of their three losses coming by one goal.

Three things to watch.

1. Maryland’s offense looks for consistency. Even with a plethora of all-conference selections, Maryland’s attack has struggled to efficiently score, ranking No. 96 in the country in shooting percentage.

2. Can the Terps contain Cassidy Spilis? The Terps’ defense has allowed over 12 goals on average over their past four games, an unsustainable recipe for success. Spilis is one of the most dangerous scorers in the conference and gave the Terps all sorts of trouble last time out.

3. The start of Maryland’s postseason run. The Terps have won three Big Ten Tournament titles since joining the conference in 2015, and can potentially see matchups this year against two teams they lost to in the regular season: No. 2-seed Penn State and No. 1-seed Northwestern.

“We need to make sure we’re putting together all the tools we’ve worked on and kinda accumulated over the course of the season and be able to execute as we go,” head coach Cathy Reese said.

Moshe Y. Landman

Seeking Green Party nomination in party-run primary
Green Party
Clarksburg, Montgomery County

Why are you running for office?

I am running for office to bring a new approach to solving problems in the State of Maryland and across the USA. As a Green Party candidate, my focus is on environmental issues. However, our platform extends to all areas of leadership including the economy, governance, agriculture, labor, education, families, healthcare, defense, poverty, and much more. Learn more about my views at www.MosheLandman.us.

Do you believe, as President Joe Biden has said, that “democracy is on the ballot” and, if so, in what way?

American Democracy is never on the ballot. Our principles as formulated by the founding fathers (unfortunately, women were not part of the process) are firmly rooted in our Constitution and nearly 250 years of jurisprudence. I am confident in our system and laws. However, Donald Trump as an individual, is in dire need of mental health assistance. It seems that his madness has infiltrated the minds of nearly 50% of American voters. He is a personal threat to our Democracy as he has demagogic and autocratic tendencies. We must make sure he never holds office again.

Will you accept the presidential election result once the totals have been certified by the states and any legal challenges adjudicated?

Yes, I will accept any result of free and fair elections, even if Donald Trump wins.

Do you support additional assistance for Ukraine’s military forces two years into Russia’s invasion?

The Green Party does not believe in or promote violence. We believe peace is the ultimate solution and diplomacy is the path to this goal. Funding Ukraine is a clear sign to Vladimir Putin, another extremely mentally ill leader, that we are supporting a war against him. This will embolden him to escalate the conflict using nuclear weapons as his conventional forces are failing to overtake Ukraine. We admire the courage and incredible strength of the Ukrainian people who are making the Russians look extremely weak, but we cannot support the continued slaughter of all soldiers and civilians involved. All are human beings with souls.

Should the United States be speaking out more clearly, as Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen has suggested, about civilian casualties in Gaza?

Yes, the US must support a path to peace in the Middle East. The October 7th massacre was a terrible day for Israel. However, this war on the Gaza Strip has led to the deaths of over 34,000 Palestinians, most of whom were innocent victims and not Hamas terrorists. The actions of Israel are being watched by all peoples in the Middle East and inciting great animosity towards the state. Iran has attacked Israel. Israel will continue to be the pariah state in the Middle East until it creates strong relations with its Muslim neighbors.

Israel has a right to defend itself and seek a path to removing Hamas from power and other terrorist groups from leading the Palestinian people. But the Palestinian people deserve a secure and peaceful country as well. Who will help the Palestinians reach their potential in a safe and nonviolent state?

Should Congress act to protect abortion rights following the Supreme Court’s 2022 Dobbs decision?

The Green Party is pro-choice. However, the Jewish tradition and many other traditions value the life of a fetus. Rabbinic Judaism does not regard the fetus as a full human being. The Talmud states that the fetus “is considered to be mere water” until its 40th day (Yevamot 69b). My personal view is that we should be very careful when it comes to abortion. At some point, the fetus in the womb has consciousness, and killing it leads to negative karma. We should instead promote wise choices when it comes to sexuality and birth control methods. In the event of rape or danger to the mother’s health, our public healthcare system should be involved, but voluntary abortions should not be paid for with public funds. Abortion should not be criminalized but, like plastic surgery, simply paid for by the family or organizations that can assist the mother. An abortion is not a process that should be undertaken without great wisdom, counseling, and input from family, friends, and experts.

Editor’s note: Baltimore Sun Media received this candidate’s responses on April 23.

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FREDERICK, MD — Frederick is one of Money’s 50 Best Places to Live in the U.S. for 2024.

“This year’s Best Places to Live list celebrates cities and towns where a thriving economy meets affordability, diversity and an exceptional quality of life,” according to the publication. “Backed by rigorous research and data-driven analysis, these 50 places are the blueprint for the future.”

For Frederick — which has a population of about 82,1750, a median listing price of $460,000 and an unemployment rate of 1.90 percent — the publication noted the area’s strong economy, vibrant art scene and “Top Chef” dining options.

The historicy city’s solid business footing is due in large part, to its proximity to the nation’s capital and to Baltimore (both about 50 miles away) and the large employers that call the city home (like Fort Detrick, a U.S. Army installation, and the Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research).

“This Eastern Seaboard city has a rich local identity that extends far beyond its economic pull. Residents enjoy access to a 50-block downtown historic district with more than 200 shops, art galleries, restaurants and a public art trail. When families go out to eat, they’re spoiled with choice — local favorites include aka Friscos, Isabella’s and Thacher & Rye, the newest outpost from “Top Chef” alum (and Frederick resident) Bryan Voltaggio,” the publication reported.

“Craft beer enthusiasts can wind down at Attaboy Beer, which has a dog-friendly garage, or Milkhouse Brewery. North Market Pop Shop, which lays claim to the largest selection of bottled sodas on the East Coast, is a great kid-friendly option,” according to Money.

Frederick is the only Maryland city that made the list.