Saturday’s 20-3 drubbing of Virginia Tech has given the Terrapin women’s lacrosse team all they can ask for – a second chance.

Last season, the Terps were the top seed in the ACC tournament. But their run did not last long. The Terps were upset in their first tournament game by then-No. 6 Virginia. Despite leading throughout most of the game, the Terps fell victim to a 6-0 Cavalier run in the final 16:25. The Cavaliers eliminated the Terps en route to the ACC championship.

With last year’s disappointment still on their minds, the Terps have once again earned the top seed and are looking for redemption.

“Losing the ACCs last year as the No. 1 seed was really hard for us,” senior attacker Katie Princiotto said. “We knew that we could do it. This year we have added motivation. This is our year, and we are going to go all out.”

The Terps have the luxury of a first-round bye, and the seeding will allow the Terps to avoid the No. 4 Cavaliers (12-3, 4-1 ACC), who are hosting the tournament, and No. 12 Duke (9-6, 3-2) until the final round.

While top-seed status has its privileges, the Terps also have a target on their backs.

“You don’t want to play any team,” senior midfielder Kelly Kasper said. “But obviously, you’re going to have to play someone. Avoiding Virginia or Duke or whoever is great, but any team is going to give us a run for our money. Everyone is going to come after us.”

The Terps’ wariness of their ACC counterparts is warranted. Five of the six regular-season games between the top-four ACC teams – the Terps, Duke, North Carolina and Virginia – were close, decided by four goals or less.

For coach Cathy Reese and the top-seeded Terps, the only sure thing is Thursday’s bye because of the competitive ACC.

“All it means is there is no game on Thursday,” Reese said. “Its great ’cause it shows we have had some big wins this season, but it really doesn’t matter because all of the ACC teams are so tough; all that matters is who shows up to play that day. Any day anybody can win. For us, it’s about showing up to play and playing our game no matter who we play.”

But the Terps are only concerned about winning the tournament, not the path.

“It’s going to be great,” senior midfielder Dana Dobbie said. “We are going to have an extra day to focus on what we need to do when we get into that first round, but it doesn’t matter how you get there as long as you get there.”

If the Terps are to bring home their first ACC championship since 2003, which they won in Charlottesville, Va., they will have to take full advantage of their top seed. Given a second chance with the inside track to the ACC championship, this year’s team is hoping to get it right.

“We put it behind us,” Dobbie said. “New team, new year, new season, and we are not going to make the same mistakes. We learned from it, and now we are ready to get over that hump.”

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