Through its first nine games, Maryland women’s lacrosse surrendered five or more goals in a quarter three times.
The No. 7 Terps doubled that total during their recent four-game road trip, all within in the second quarter.
The defensive woes largely stemmed from their goalkeeping, as the Terps switched goalies five times during the 2-2 stretch. Maryland averaged 12 goals allowed a game over that span — nearly two goals higher than its season average.
Maryland is dealing with the loss of two-time Big Ten Goaltender of the Year Emily Sterling, who graduated last year, causing sophomore JJ Suriano to assume starting goalkeeping duties.
Suriano was solid for the Terps heading into their road trip, sporting a 9.57 goals against average and four games with a save percentage of at least .500. She’s only played one complete game since, being removed from the goal three times in the last four games, including twice in the second quarter.
Maryland’s second-period woes started in the first game of its road trip against then-No. 14 Penn. The Terps surrendered five second-quarter goals, with two coming on shots near the top of the eight-meter arc. Suriano was ultimately pulled in the fourth quarter
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“We just felt like they were hitting a lot of shots and opportunities and … [wanted to] give them a different look,” coach Cathy Reese said after the 13-12 loss on March 31.
In the next game against Arizona State, Maryland’s defense surrendered another five-goal second quarter, and its troubles again started in goal.
Suriano stopped just three of Arizona State’s first ten shots on goal before freshman Julia Ward took her place with about eight minutes remaining in the half. Ward did not play any better, surrendering five goals on six shots and prompting Maryland’s second goalkeeping change about 14 minutes later.
While Suriano recorded five consecutive saves upon return en route to a comeback win for the Terps, their second quarter woes returned less than a week later against then-No. 10 Virginia on Wednesday.
Following goals on three consecutive shots, Suriano was substituted in favor of Ward yet again. But Ward’s time in net was even shorter than the previous game, leading to another match in which Maryland trailed at halftime because of a five-goal second quarter.
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When Suriano returned in the third quarter, she played better again, stopping half of Virginia’s eight shots on goal. But this time, it was not enough to mount a comeback.
“Players can always have the chance to reset,” Reese said. “We just think if maybe she needs to see the ball a little bit better, we can pull her out and just kind of have her take a deep breath and then get her back in.”
In the lone game of the road trip where the Terps did not surrender five second-quarter goals, they sealed the game by halftime. Maryland dominated the second frame in their matchup with then-No. 19 USC, winning nine of ten draw controls and limiting the Trojans to three possessions.
The result was a nine-goal quarter for Maryland’s offense and a shutout for its defense, giving the Terps a commanding 11-3 lead at halftime. Despite this success, Reese still doesn’t think her team played a complete game,
“I don’t think we played a full 60 minutes the way we want to play,” Reese said. “The consistency is definitely something we’re talking about and want to keep focused on.”
