After opening the 2025 campaign with a 21-9 win against UAlbany, 6th-ranked Syracuse women’s lacrosse (1-0, 0-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) already has a game outside the Dome. 7th-ranked Maryland (0-0, 0-0 Big Ten) hosts SU for the first time since 2020.
The Terrapins are one of the most prestigious programs in all of women’s lacrosse. Head Coach Cathy Reese is 331-47 (.876) and enters her 19th season with Maryland. Since taking over in 2007, Reese has led the Terps to five national titles and 12 final fours.
The Orange and Terrapins are in similar spots, both teams had high expectations each of the past four years but could not get to the championship game. After graduating a lot of talent, these two powerhouse programs have to find a way to balance the talented underclassmen with limited experience and the proven leaders that are taking the next step.
“We welcome in 11 freshmen and we have a couple redshirts,” Reese on where her squad’s energy comes from in 2025.
For SU, attackers Olivia Adamson and Emma Ward showed their experience with a combined 11 points against UAlbany.
“Bringing my knowledge and experience and working with the coaches and executing such a great game plan so they can perform on gameday,” Adamson on her role as a leader of the younger players.
Sophomore midfielder Alexa Vogelman, who missed all of last season with an injury, tallied the Orange’s first goal of the season and finished with three points.
“She’s very appreciative of the opportunity, and worked really hard to get back,” Treanor on Vogelman's preparation for the season.
Last season, the Terrapins won an overtime thriller against the Orange 9-8 in the Dome. Midfielder Kori Edmondson scored a hat trick for the Terps. Now a junior, Edmondson was a preseason All-American and is Maryland’s lead returning goal scorer (38). But overall, the Terps only return 35% of their scoring output from 2024.
Similar to Syracuse, Maryland also had its primary draw control specialist graduate. The Terrapins only bring back 25 of their 301 draw controls from last season. In SU’s opener, it relied on attacker Meghan Rhode who had 11 draw controls.
Another position both the Terps and Orange had to replace was its goalie. Emily Sterling started 77 games over her five seasons with Maryland. Sterling was an All-American, two-time Big Ten goaltender of the year, and national goalkeeper of the year during her time with the Terps.
On Saturday the goalie battle will feature Maryland’s JJ Suriano and SU’s Daniella Guyette. Suriano won the position for the Terps during preseason camp even without seeing any action last year as a freshman. In Syracuse’s opener, Guyette played 50 minutes, saved three shots and only allowed six goals.
Opening draw in College Park is at 11 a.m. on Saturday. Follow along to @WAERSports on twitter for live coverage and updates throughout the contest.