Terps Still Perfect with Victory Over No. 15 James Madison

By Layne Litsinger

The No. 1 Maryland women’s lacrosse team maintained their perfect record, defeating No. 15 James Madison Dukes in a close score of 14-10.

Goals came from five different Terps, with Sophomore Zoe Stukenberg leading the group scoring four goals. Freshman Megan Whittle tallied three, Junior Taylor Cummings, Senior Kelly McPartland, and Redshirt Senior Brooke Griffin added two each, and Senior Erin Collins notched one goal.

Redshirt senior goalie Alex Fitzpatrick had five crucial saves, and Sophomore Emily Kift also had time, making two saves.

The game started off quickly, when the Dukes scored early off of a free position at 26:52. Cummings fired back immediately with a goal a minute later to keep the score tied.

Cummings then scored again after receiving a pass from McPartland. Whittle scored off of a pass from Senior Megan Douty to give the Terps a 3-1 with 18:52 to go.

The Dukes continued to fight back and score off of a draw control to keep the score close at 3-2.

But the Terps wasted no time, going on a five-goal streak with two more goals from Stukenberg, two McPartland, and a goal from Griffin to close out the first half at 8-2.

As the second half was underway, Cummings immediately gets the draw control, passes to McPartland, who scores, to lengthen the Terps lead to 9-2 within the first ten. Whittle then tallied another goal at 28:09 to make it 10-2.

The Dukes scored on a free position 24:54 to cut the lead to 10-3. Stukenberg followed this with an assist to Collins for another goal to make it 11-3 at 23:17.

Stukenberg then scores off another pass from McPartland, followed by another goal from Whittle to make the score 13-3.

JMU tried to cut the lead, going on a five-goal streak to keep the game close at 13-8. But Griffin scored on a free position to help maintain the Terps steady lead at 14-8 with 8:51 to go.

The Dukes finished out the game with two more goals, making the final score to be 14-10.

The Terps take on No.6 Northwestern Wildcats next Thursday as they begin conference play in the Big Ten.