Midfielder/Defender Jen Mendez moves through Boston defenders during the Terps’ 18-8 victory Feb. 19, 2014 at College Park
In the Terrapins women’s lacrosse team’s previous five games entering Saturday’s second round NCAA tournament matchup with Penn, attacker Halle Majorana had recorded 16 points. But before the matchup with the Quakers, the team announced the sophomore would miss the game and possibly the tournament for an undisclosed reason.
Without Majorana providing her an offensive boost off the bench, the Terps turned to a combination of players to fill the void. Attackers Kristen Lamon and Taylor Salandra as well as midfielder Jen Mendez all came off the bench in the 13-5 win over Penn.
The Terps will look to continue rotating players into Majorana’s spot when they take on Duke in the NCAA quarterfinals tomorrow afternoon at the Field Hockey and Lacrosse Complex.
“[Majorana] was a great player, and we definitely feel her not being there,” midfielder Taylor Cummings said. “But we have people that are coming and stepping up. Kristen Lamon and Jen Mendez are doing a great job coming in and filling her role.”
Lamon and Mendez both notched a goal in Sunday’s victory, and Lamon added her second assist of the season.
On the season, the two players have combined for 19 goals, and Majorana scored 20 goals on the season. The teammates also combine for seven years of college experience compared to Majorana’s two.
Whether coach Cathy Reese uses Lamon or Mendez will depend on the offense the Terps are running.
“Jen is more of a middie that when we do run in more of a movement type of offense she is in there,” Reese said. “In more of a set plays you have Kristen Lamon in there, so we are going to balance it out with people.”
Lamon provides an added dynamic to the Terps offense with her height. The 5-foot-9 attacker — who is five inches taller than Majorana — provides a tall target for her teammates when she cuts in front of the net.
“It’s really nice to have her because she is so tall you can just kind of throw it anywhere,” Cummings said. “And she will catch it. “
Lamon did struggle at times Sunday with the ball in traffic, though. The junior turned the ball over twice in front of the net.
Still, Lamon provides a unique role that Majorana filled. Both attackers enter the game off the bench after the Terps have the ball inside the opponent’s 30.
“My teammates on the offensive end make it a lot easier for me because they tell me where to go,” Lamon said. “Brooke is always so communicative with me.”
Along with the communication, Griffin provides a strong passing presence behind the net. The redshirt junior ranks third on the team with 19 assists. And Lamon’s height makes her a perfect target.
“Brooke is an amazing feeder,” Lamon said. “She just knows where to put the ball into space, and I can just kind of stick my arms up and receive it and shoot.”
While Majorana scored 34 points this season, Lamon and Mendez provide a pair of different offensive threats moving forward. They will look to provide a spark in Majorana’s place tomorrow against Duke, who the Terps defeated 19-10 earlier this season.
“We definitely miss her presence,” Cummings said. “But there is other people to fill her role, and I think we are doing a pretty good job of it so far.”
