Nine Maryland women’s lacrosse players were named preseason All-Americans by Inside Lacrosse on Tuesday, the most of any team in the nation.
The Terps ended last season with nine All-Americans, and also led the nation in preseason honors last year.
Graduate transfer Erica Evans (midfielder) and seniors Julia Braig (defender) and Jen Giles (midfielder) were named to the first-team.
Evans is a transfer from Cassius College, where she won MAAC midfielder of the year for three consecutive seasons. She was also the first Tewaaraton Semifinalist in school history. She missed the 2018 campaign, though, after tearing her ACL during the offseason. So, after redshirting, she is eligible to compete for the Terps immediately.
Defender Lizzie Colson and attackers Caroline Steele and Kali Hartshorn received second-team honors after being All-Americans last season.
After attacker Megan Whittle’s graduation — who led the squad with 84 goals — Steele, Giles and Hartshorn return as Maryland’s second, third and fourth leading scorers from 2018. Steele supplied 59 goals and 20 assists last campaign, Giles added 52 goals and 31 assists and Hartshorn chipped in 38 scores and six assists.
Goalkeeper Megan Taylor was named to the third-team, while defender Meghan Doherty and midfielder Grace Griffin garnered honorable mentions.
Taylor started 21 games last year, posting a .477 save percentage. And Griffin played a key role as a freshman, starting 18 of 22 games, scoring 30 goals and notching seven assists. She was named Big Ten Freshman of the Year.
Six of the nine Terps were All-American selections after the 2018 season, which ended in the final four with a loss to Boston College. Coach Cathy Reese’s squad will look to avenge that disappointing ending this year.
