No. 10 Maryland women’s lacrosse defeats No. 17 Princeton, 15-11

No. 10 Maryland girls’s lacrosse attacker Eloise Clevenger couldn’t be stopped in its matchup in opposition to No. 17 Princeton.

Beginning early within the first quarter when she dished out a pair of assists to net-front cutters, Clevenger was on fireplace from the get-go. Within the second quarter, she virtually single-handedly propelled Maryland to a 12-5 halftime lead with a bevy of targets and a few extra assists. Clevenger’s three targets and 4 assists on the evening led a strong displaying from the Terps as they took down Princeton, 15-11, on Wednesday evening in School Park.

The sport started with a draw management win by Maryland. After working the ball round as regular, the Tigers finally fouled Maryland. The Terps didn’t waste the chance, as attacker Hannah Leubecker made a fast dodge to the cage and fired a outstanding shot to offer Maryland its first lead of the sport.

Princeton didn’t take lengthy to reply to Maryland’s punch, ready patiently and isolating attackers on the offensive finish. Kari Buonanno struck first for the Tigers, scoring in opposition to tightly contested protection by Abby Bosco.

Libby Might continued the scoring for the Terps shortly after, capitalizing after making a swift minimize to the cage. Clevenger, Maryland’s chief in assists, made no mistake to find the open Might for the go-ahead purpose.

The following jiffy have been crammed with turnovers and wonderful saves from each packages. Though robust, bodily protection was performed by each groups, fouls have been plentiful. Whereas Princeton didn’t safe its free place alternative, Might cashed in on her try for Maryland.

Within the subsequent couple of minutes that adopted, midfielder Shaylan Ahearn scored for Maryland, with the helper coming from Clevenger from her place behind the opposition’s internet.

The primary body ended with Princeton taking among the momentum. Attacker Jami MacDonald even scored a reasonably behind-the-back purpose. Heading into the second quarter, Maryland held a 6-4 lead.

The Terps opened the second quarter with certainly one of their quickest scores to open 1 / 4 all season. Simply 18 seconds in, Clevenger fired a missile to the center of the crease space, and Leubecker used her fast launch to attain earlier than the Tigers’ goalkeeper may even react.

A couple of minute later, Might scored on her patented quick-release shot to increase the lead even additional. Then, freshman standout Kori Edmondson’s two straight targets pressured Princeton to name a timeout. In simply the primary 5 minutes of the second quarter, Maryland scored 5 targets.

Maryland’s offense was merely working completely. When it was given free place alternatives, it cashed in. When the Tigers’ protection pressed it, it made fast passes, which just about at all times led to a net-front purpose. The Terps’ offense remoted too, and Edmondson proved that sort of scheme may work on her first rating. Within the first 20 minutes of play, Clevenger had 4 targets and one help and Might had 4 scores.

The Terrapin protection was smothering. With Princeton already having some bother with drops, Maryland accentuated its points by forcing turnovers and passes that weren’t open. With their tightly contested man-to-man protection, the Terps left little room for any attacker to function.

At halftime, the Terrapins led the Tigers by a rating of 12-5.

The third body commenced with a Princeton draw management and subsequent Emily Sterling save. Nonetheless, because the Terps couldn’t rating on their first possession, the Tigers rapidly received the ball again and capitalized on a free place shot.

5 minutes later, Princeton scored as soon as extra. It marked its second in a row. Maryland had just a few possibilities to attain itself throughout that point, however head coach Cathy Reese opted to deploy among the backups so they might get enjoying time.

After Princeton’s second of the quarter, Reese subbed the starters again in and Might began proper the place she left off, netting an unassisted rating. It was her fifth of the evening.

Clevenger scored late within the quarter, which ended up being her seventh level of the affair. It gave the Terps a lift of momentum heading into the fourth quarter in a sport they already led large. After three frames, Maryland was on high, 14-7.

Princeton opened the fourth-quarter scoring about three minutes in to chop the Maryland result in six. Nonetheless, Might answered again comparatively rapidly, scoring her sixth purpose of the match.

However Princeton wasn’t happening with out a struggle. It notched two straight free place targets to make it a 15-10 sport with rather less than eight minutes remaining.

After the Terps turned the ball over on a sloppy move, Princeton made them pay on the opposite finish and minimize the lead all the way down to 4. Maryland managed to hold on, although, and locked down on protection for the final six-plus minutes.

Three issues to know

1. The offense was excellent. Sure, the Terps had 16 turnovers. And even with that, Maryland netted 15 targets. What’s extra vital is that the celebs performed like stars Wednesday. Clevenger headlined the scoring, notching three targets and 4 assists. Might, the team-leading purpose scorer, had six. Edmondson, who has been the brightest spot on the roster this season, had two targets.

Wanting additional than the statistics, the Terps managed the move of the sport. It by no means felt as if they have been dashing their offense, and every move was made with conviction and belief.

2. Draw management battle. Heading into the match, it was anticipated that Maryland would crush Princeton in draw management wins, given how poorly the Tigers have carried out on them and the abundance of riches the Terps have within the circle. Nonetheless, it was a lot nearer than anybody may’ve anticipated, as Maryland solely received 15 of 30 draw controls.

In some methods, it speaks to how nicely the protection operated, on condition that Princeton was granted extra possibilities. It’s most certainly an anomaly, and easily a nitpick at what was an distinctive evening of lacrosse for the Terrapins.

3. Encouraging enchancment. Following its losses to James Madison and Denver, Maryland has seen appreciable enchancment and confidence each in its offense and protection. The times are over the place the Terps hand over 5 – 6 purpose runs to obviously overmatched opponents.

At all times composed, Maryland has now taken early leads over every staff it has performed, and it has saved these leads. Because the Denver loss, the Terps have outscored their opponents 93-45 and look to be a formidable risk. If Maryland have been to play a staff resembling Syracuse once more — a sport during which the Terps misplaced 20-11 — count on the rating to be a lot nearer.