With just under five minutes left and Maryland women’s lacrosse up one goal, attacker Chrissy Thomas came out from behind the net.
The graduate student took a few quick steps to her left, stopped and threw a pass to an unmarked Kayla Gilmore in front of the net. Gilmore flung a quick shot past Georgetown goalkeeper Leah Warehime, giving the Terps the goal they needed.
Gilmore’s second score of the game — and the last of the day for No. 9 Maryland — sealed its 9-7 win over Georgetown on Tuesday at the Maryland Field Hockey and Lacrosse Complex.
“All things considered, it was a gritty win tonight,” coach Cathy Reese said. “I think we started out and we had a great opening minute, and came up with a goal early. And then I think we kind of got a little complacent sometimes all over the field.”
Gilmore, a freshman midfielder, teamed up with fellow first-years Shelby Sullivan and Emma Abbazia to score four of the Terps’ goals. Strong play from the trio helped Maryland secure its first win of the season.
[Maryland women’s lacrosse’s new offensive unit struggled in season opener]
Maryland’s (1-1) freshmen struggled in the season opener against then-No. 6 Syracuse, recording just two points. They wasted no time matching that number on Tuesday, as Abbazia and Sullivan netted a pair of goals in the first quarter to give the Terps an early lead.
“They’re amazing. All of them, all the freshmen that scored,” redshirt junior defender Kennedy Major said. “We all have so much confidence in them, and it’s just so cool to see how good they are, and how young they are, and the potential that they have.”
The freshmen continued to shine the following quarter when Gilmore found herself alone by the top of the eight-meter arc. She received a pass and weaved between two defenders, leaving her one-on-one with Warehime in front of the goal. After a pair of pump fakes, Gilmore tossed the ball into the upper half of the net.
Maryland’s offense, which got off to a slow start against then-No. 6 Syracuse on Saturday, did the same against Georgetown (1-2). But the Terps once again dominated in the draw circle, winning each one until the third quarter, allowing them to secure extra possessions.
The Terps entered halftime up 7-3, largely because of their sustained success in the circle. They scored shortly after winning two of the last three draws of the half.
Despite Maryland’s success on offense, the unit struggled to maintain possession, committing 11 first-half turnovers. The Terps didn’t fare much better in the second half, surrendering 10 more and bringing the total to 36 in two games.
“I just thought for us our catching and throwing wasn’t great,” Reese said. “Our passes weren’t great, and we … just passed in a circle sometimes.”
One of the biggest differences between Maryland’s first two games was the play of goalkeeper JJ Suriano. The sophomore struggled in her season debut, making just four saves and surrendering 12 goals.
[No. 7 Maryland women’s lacrosse falls handily in season-opener to No. 6 Syracuse, 15-9]
But Suriano was crucial to Maryland’s early success against the Hoyas. It took just one half to eclipse her previous save total, sporting five after two periods. Surriano finished the game with 11 saves.
“JJ had some excellent saves today,” Reese said. “Love to see the way that she rebounded after last game, which is huge for her and for our defense.”
Suriano’s best save came during the first quarter while Maryland held a 2-1 advantage.
After contact inside the eight-meter arc, attacker Maley Starr was awarded a free-position chance. The sophomore drove off the left mark and delivered a high-to-low shot that Suriano shut down.
While Maryland’s offense struggled in the third quarter, Suriano continued to provide it with momentum.
Georgetown attacker Sophia Loschert drove from the right side of the field against senior defender Sophie Halaus early in the third. With no help sliding toward Halaus from Maryland’s defense, Loschert ripped a shot back across her body toward the bottom corner.
Suriano dropped to her knees and kicked the shot out with her right foot, sending the ball into the corner.
The Hoyas gave Maryland a scare with three fourth-quarter goals, but it wasn’t enough to mount a comeback. The Terps emerged with a slim victory, their first of the season.
