For most of her first two seasons on the Terrapin women’s lacrosse team, senior attacker Krista Pellizzi was not a starter.

The 2006 All-American selection from North Massapequa, N.Y., initially contributed off the bench for the Terps. She didn’t break into the starting lineup until two of the last three games of her sophomore season, and only then because the Terps were shorthanded because of injuries.

But since the beginning of last season, the small, quick and elusive Pellizzi has scored 93 goals while starting all 38 games for the Terps and has made a name for herself as one of the most fearless and exciting players in the sport.

“I think it was being able to have the chance to play and just being given the opportunity,” said Pellizzi. “I feel like everyone on this team makes each other look good.”

Nicknamed “Bone” because of her slight frame, Pellizzi is often one of the smallest players on the field. But at 5 feet, 4 inches, Pellizzi uses her size as an advantage, fearlessly attacking defenders who are much bigger than she is or just running right around them.

“I think I get underestimated by defenders [because of my size],” Pellizzi said. “I guess I just work more on trying to get faster.”

Her ability to make opponents miss has even drawn comparisons in the press box to former Detroit Lions running back and Pro Football Hall of Famer Barry Sanders.

“She’s really a fun player to watch,” coach Cathy Reese said. “Sometimes it’s amazing how she finds her way inside the eight-meter. She has a great sense of where to find her opportunities.”

When Pellizzi shows off her speed, she is often given a chance to display her toughness as well. In many cases, defenders are forced to foul Pellizzi in a desperate attempt to stop her from scoring.

Pellizzi has taken several sticks to the head and face this season, but more often than not, she springs back up as if nothing has happened. Thirteen of Pellizzi’s 50 goals this season have come off free-position opportunities that occur because of her drawing a foul.

“Sometimes it’s just picking myself up off the ground,” Pellizzi said. “It always looks a little worse than it is. I just don’t think about it.”

Her performance on senior night against Princeton on May 2 epitomized Pellizzi at her best.

Pellizzi took an especially hard check to the face in the first half and had to leave the game, as it appeared she was bleeding. She returned just a few minutes later and put on an amazing display, scoring five of her team-high six goals, including the game-winner with four seconds left in triple-overtime that gave the Terps a 13-12 win.

Reese said she wasn’t even surprised by her star’s performance.

“Not at all,” Reese said. “She gets bumped over and knocked around a lot … and she is always fighting back. She’s a tough player and a tough athlete, and she always wants to be back on the field as soon as possible.”

Pellizzi’s irrepressible speed opens up other teams’ defenses and creates matchup problems for opponents who must also worry about stopping the Terps’ more physical offensive threats.

Junior midfielder Dana Dobbie, who is 5 foot 10 inches, is tied for the team lead with Pellizzi with 50 goals, and 5-foot-7-inch junior midfielder Lauren Cohen, Pellizzi’s best friend and former high school teammate, is third on the team with 31.

“That’s what’s really helped Maryland’s offensive success this season,” Reese said. “Everyone is a threat to score, and that’s made it very difficult for teams to figure out who to mark up on. I love it.”

When the Terps begin play in the NCAA tournament tomorrow afternoon against Yale, it is certain that Pellizzi won’t be left out of the starting lineup.

Contact reporter Greg Schimmel at schimmeldbk@gmail.com.