PRINCETON, N.J. – Terrapin women’s lacrosse attacker Karri Ellen Johnson and defender Brittany Poist entered yesterday’s game against Princeton with one phrase firmly in mind: “Let the whistle release us.”
In the days following the No. 3 Terps’ first loss of the season, coach Cathy Reese had used the saying to illustrate her struggles in recent games. She didn’t want the Terps to let loose against their opponents late in the first half or even the second half. She wanted it right from the start.
Johnson and Poist took the challenge to heart. Johnson poured in six goals, while Poist powered a rejuvenated defense against Princeton, leading the Terps to a trouble-free 13-6 win.
“I walked into this game wanting to kill and get the frustrations out,” Poist said.
Johnson did her part. The sophomore scored on three of the team’s first four goals, assisting on the fourth. Late in the second half, Johnson sealed the win by ending a three-goal Princeton run.
“When she has the ball in her stick, something great will happen,” Reese said. “She’s someone on our team that scores when she shoots. She’s a great finisher.”
With their performance, the Terps looked more like the team that won 12 consecutive games to begin the season than the one thoroughly outplayed by North Carolina last weekend.
The offense outshot Princeton by 15 and also won the draw control battle, 12-9. Sarah Mollison, meanwhile, added three goals and three assists to go along with Johnson’s dominating night.
Still, it was the performance of starting goalie Brittany Dipper that might have offered the most encouragement to the Terps. After a month full of inconsistent performances had stirred up a goalkeeper controversy, the sophomore broke through against the Tigers.
For the first time since Boston College on March 20, Dipper played the full 60 minutes and finished with seven saves, including six in the first half. She used everything from her feet to her legs to her stick to make critical saves against Princeton.
“I’ve been really focusing on myself and getting myself back in it,” Dipper said. “I got back in my groove tonight. It felt good to be back.”
The defense in front of her, in large part, triggered the change. Poist served as the focal point of the Terps’ renewed defense, forcing the Tigers into low-angle shots that Dipper gobbled up effortlessly.
The Tigers’ lone threat all game came following a three-goal run with less than 12 minutes remaining to draw within four. But after a timeout from Reese, the squad rattled off three straight of their own to seal up the win.
“It was a good showing tonight,” Poist said. “There was a confidence and a little bit of swagger we didn’t have against North Carolina.”
ceckard@umdbk.com
