With two seconds remaining in the Big Ten tournament championship, midfielder Kori Edmondson stood on the right hash mark of the free position line in her usual sprinter-like, crouched position.
The junior had scored four times in the game on free-position opportunities. She had a chance to tie the game and send Maryland women’s lacrosse to overtime.
But Northwestern defender Jane Hansen stick-checked Edmondson before she could complete her shot, sending the ball over the goal.
Despite No. 2-seed Maryland falling 7-8 on a last-second play to No. 1-seed Northwestern, the young Terps showcased their resilience throughout the game.
“I couldn’t be more proud of them,” coach Cathy Reese said. “The resiliency of all of these guys, they blow me away.”
When Maryland played Northwestern last month, the Terps lost 4-16. Reese stated afterward that her team “had a lack of toughness all over the field.” But the Terps demonstrated their toughness on Sunday, primarily through their defensive unit.
[The Diamondback Sports Digest: Maryland women’s lacrosse collapses in Big Ten championship]
Despite inconsistent play throughout parts of the season, goalkeeper JJ Suriano recorded 18 saves, marking a career-best. The sophomore became the first Maryland goalkeeper since 2017 to make this many stops in a single game.
Eleven of those saves came in the first half, leaving the Big Ten’s highest scoring offense with just two first-half tallies — its lowest all season.
“We’ve seen games this season where [Suriano’s] been on fire, like today,” Reese said. “She rose to the challenge. Our [defense] put [the Wildcats] in great spots that she could make saves from.”
When the Wildcats did score in the first half, the Terps responded roughly a minute after each goal. Most of Maryland’s goals came from the free position line — an area Northwestern struggled defending in its previous matchup.
Johns Hopkins scored on four of its five attempts against Northwestern from the free position line in its Big Ten semifinals game. Maryland replicated similar success, scoring five of its seven goals on free position opportunities.
[Maryland women’s lacrosse falters late in Big Ten championship, falls 8-7 to Northwestern]
But the Terps’ offense struggled in the second half, going nearly 22 minutes without a goal. Despite the offensive drought, Maryland’s defensive unit remained stout, forcing three turnovers in the final quarter.
In a game where Maryland was thoroughly outshot, 19-41, the Wildcats did not secure their first lead until two minutes remaining in the game.
The Terps recorded a season-low seven draws on Sunday, but won the game’s last one as midfielder Lexi Dupcak charged after the loose ball in the draw circle. The sophomore collided hard with Northwestern midfielder Sam Smith, generating a loud gasp from the crowd and giving possession to Maryland.
Edmondson then quickly grabbed the ball and sprinted up the field, weaving between a pair of defenders before drawing a green card on midfielder Emerson Bohlig.
While Edmondson couldn’t convert on her final free-position shot, the Terps’ ability to generate a quality look in the final seconds is a good sign with the NCAA tournament beginning on May 9.
“Kori led the team,” Reese said. “We had an opportunity down there, and I would give it to her again and again and again from what we’ve seen from her this season.”
