“Here we go, Gators” chants filled the Maryland Field Hockey and Lacrosse Complex as Florida bled out the final minute of last year’s NCAA quarterfinal.

When the final buzzer rang, a wave of blue and orange poured onto the field, marking the end of Maryland’s season and the end of an era.

Eleven Terps graduated after the 2024 season — some of whom gave five years to the program. Now, No. 7 Maryland women’s lacrosse welcomes 11 freshmen to College Park to build around a new core.

“[We’re] reteaching everything right [and] getting everybody on the same page,” coach Cathy Reese said. “We’re focused on Maryland systems … and a lot of that stuff takes time.”

For the past three seasons, midfielder Shaylan Ahearn took nearly every midfield draw for the Terps. She recorded 432 draw controls during her five-year tenure at Maryland, placing her second in program history.

Reese said freshmen midfielders Kayla Gilmore and Devin Livingston will take draws to start the season. Senior attacker Hailey Russo, who has 18 career draw controls, will also be in the mix, the coach added.

Maryland’s offense was inconsistent in its last two seasons. Those struggles may continue with the departures of attackers Libby May, Eloise Clevenger and Hannah Leubecker.

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The three combined for 698 career points, putting each of them in the top 25 of Maryland’s all-time scoring. May and Leubecker were the Terps’ top goal-scorers for years, leaving College Park sitting 10th and seventh, respectively, on Maryland’s all-time goals list.

Clevenger led the team in assists the past two seasons, netting a career total of 131 and leaving her fourth in Maryland’s record book.

Midfielder Kori Edmondson is one of the players tasked with filling their void. The junior scored 79 goals in her first two years and starts the season on the Tewaaraton Award watchlist.

This season, Edmondson will not only be tasked with a heavier offensive burden but will embrace a new role as one of Maryland’s five team captains.

“[The graduating class] showed us what it means to be a Maryland athlete, a Maryland lacrosse player,” Edmondson said. “They showed us the culture that this place has and … what Maryland truly has to offer, day in and day out.”

Defensively, Maryland is equally decimated without three of its five leaders in ground balls from last season.

Graduates Meghan Ball and Brianna Lamoureux helped cement a Maryland defense that surrendered a Big Ten second-best 8.62 goals against per game.

Last year, Lamoureux played all but one half for the Terps. Maryland’s defense then surrendered 10 second-half goals without her and lost in overtime. Reese complimented Lamoureux’s dependability as a one-on-one defender.

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Ball transferred from Rutgers to Maryland after the 2023 season and led last year’s team with 37 ground balls and 40 forced turnovers.

“Ball went out fearless, and I think she passed that down to not just me but … so many other defenders,” redshirt junior defender Kennedy Major said.

Major, a full-time starter the last two years, will likely move into the forefront of the defense. She caused 14 turnovers last season and brings blistering speed, allowing the Terps to transition quickly from defense to offense.

Maryland also returns senior defender Sophie Halus, who entered last season as a transfer from Colorado. Halus easily fit into Maryland’s system, finishing the year tied for third in ground balls with 23.

Reese said red-shirt freshman goalie JJ Suriano will anchor the defense. Suriano sat behind Emily Sterling last season but entered Maryland as the No. 11 recruit nationally, according to Inside Lacrosse.

Sterling was a two-time Big Ten Goaltender of the Year and is fourth on Maryland’s all-time saves list.

“I love that she’s able to learn under Emily [and] she is ready to step into that role,” Reese said. “It’s tough for a first-year player to anchor defense back there, especially a defense that’ll be as young as ours is, but she’ll do a great job.”

Suriano, along with all the other Terps, replace a decorated crop of graduates, but last year’s class was the first to leave College Park without a national championship since 2009.

2025 marks a new era for Maryland women’s lacrosse, with a roster that hopes to win its first title since 2019.