The first two weeks of the season, Terrapins women’s lacrosse coach Cathy Reese didn’t say “North Carolina.” Despite a national championship rematch looming three games into the Terps’ schedule, she refused to have her team look ahead.
Since the team’s opening-weekend victory over William & Mary, Reese has ensured her squad approaches its schedule one game at a time. As the No. 1 Terps prepare to face Hofstra at the Field Hockey and Lacrosse Complex on Saturday, that mindset remains the same.
The Terps (3-0) topped the No. 5 Tar Heels last weekend behind a late goal, and face No. 2 Syracuse, No. 3 Florida and No. 19 Penn all on the road after this weekend’s bout.
But even with three ranked teams awaiting them, they maintain their focus remains solely on the winless Pride (0-3).
“Just trying to take it one game at a time,” attacker Megan Whittle said. “We’re still trying to get used to each other with all the new faces.”
Although the Terps left Chapel Hill, North Carolina, with a victory, Reese said the team didn’t play its best lacrosse. Against a Hofstra team that hasn’t won a game since April, she wants to see the Terps improve their transition game.
The Terps edged North Carolina 20-17 in ground balls and won eight draw controls to the Tar Heels’ nine. Reese said the excessive ground balls need to be turned into offensive possessions.
“I really want us to be able to control the ball off the draw,” Reese said. “We need to push the fast break and attack a little more. Have to be a little quicker as we transition down the field.”
Even though Reese wants to see them push the tempo more, they’ve still had offensive success through the first three contests. The Terps’ average of 15 goals per game is tied for the seventh most in the nation.
That number could increase, though, if they win more possessions off the draw.
“Our people coming off the 30, we see [midfielder] Caroline Steele really come through and come up with some draws in certain areas,” Reese said. “We’re just really trying to emphasize people getting off the line quick and making it a whole team effort instead of relying on one person to come up with the ball.”
With many of their starters graduating after last season, the Terps are still adjusting to the new faces in the lineup. And star midfielder Taylor Cummings wants to see them build on their development this Saturday.
“We want our freshmen and sophomores and juniors who have not received as much playing time in the past to do well and not be afraid to make mistakes,” Cummings said. “We’ve just embraced everyone, and I think that’s what has made us so successful.”
A season ago, the Terps topped the Pride, 14-6, a game after beating North Carolina. That one-game-at-a-time approach helped them finish the regular season 17-0 en route to their second straight national championship.
After hanging on against the Tar Heels, they want to continue getting better as they try to replicate last year’s success.
“What we’re looking to do is build off of Saturday,” Reese said. “Offensively, we have a lot to work on there.”
