For the second consecutive season, the Terrapins women’s lacrosse team is ranked No. 1 in both the media and Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association preseason polls, which Inside Lacrosse and the IWLCA released Monday.
The Terps received all but one first place vote in the media poll and every first place vote in the IWLCA poll.
After earning the top spot last winter, the Terps went 21-1, including 5-0 in Big Ten Play, en route to their second consecutive national championship. They were ranked No. 1 all of last season.
Despite losing 11 seniors, the club will be led by senior midfielder Taylor Cummings, the two-time reigning Tewaaraton Award winner. Zoe Stukenberg, Nadine Hadnagy, Megan Whittle and Alice Mercer, who were all named Inside Lacrosse preseason All-Americans, are also set to return.
Northwestern, Penn State and Ohio State join the Terps as Big Ten teams ranked in the preseason Top 20 in both polls. The Terps will face 10 teams ranked in both polls in 2016.
Maryland opens the regular season at noon on Feb. 13 against William & Mary at the Field Hockey and Lacrosse Complex.
