The wheels have started to fall off for No. 3 Maryland women’s lacrosse. 

After the Terps’ undefeated start was broken against a top opponent last week, a potential bounce-back was a letdown Thursday night. 

No. 11 Michigan dominated Maryland, unlike any team has all season, as it cruised to a 15-4 beatdown in Ann Arbor. 

Now, the Terps have a losing streak – back-to-back losses. It’s a stark contrast to the majority of this season. 

Early in the season, Maryland consistently dominated the first half and built sizable leads that helped it cruise to victory. But that track record stopped against Northwestern; the Terps won the first half, but fell off in the second.

That first-half dominance changed on Thursday against Michigan. The Terps weren’t able to improve in the second half either. The comeback ability they demonstrated earlier in the season against Georgetown was nowhere to be found. 

It never got better; Maryland wasn’t even able to score in the fourth quarter.

In this game, however, Maryland began to place shots poorly, and its defense was tormented by Michigan’s offense. It had one of the worst first-half performances of the season. 

The team only scored three out of their 14 shot attempts in the first half, resulting in a team shot percentage of 21%.

Over the course of the entire game, only two Maryland players scored. Defensively, JJ Suriano did not play well. She had 42.3% save percentage.

The entire team was not performing the way they had all season – a significant factor in the loss.

Michigan not only had a variety of goal scorers, it also had a well-balanced offense. Six different players earned assists.

After a slightly back-and-forth beginning of the first quarter, the Wolverines started to gain a lead and ran with it.

Michigan started the scoring less than a minute into the game as Emma Bradbury found the back of the net. 

After Michigan’s first goal, the first quarter was back and forth. That was until Kristen Shanahan tied the game with six minutes left in the frame. Then, Lauren LaPointe found magic to snatch the lead. 

Michigan didn’t let the Terps escape the first quarter with a lead. After earning a free position, Ava Class struck, and then  Katharine Merrifield did so too, with less than a minute left.

The Wolverines goalie, Elizabeth Johnson, was a brick wall in goal, and with the help of her defense, she was able to earn a save percentage of 63.6% by the fourth quarter.

Caroline Byrd’s ball playmaking was dominant. She earned four assists in the first half.  The Wolverines had six different scorers in the opening 30 minutes.

 Michigan dominated throughout the second quarter. Maryland couldn’t until the fifth minute, but did so too late – Michigan scored four consecutive goals.

Michigan’s run consisted of goals from Bradbury, Calli Norris, Ceci Stein and Class. 

It took four minutes for either team to score in the third quarter. Despite Maryland needing a goal, Michigan struck and then did so again.  Bradbury recorded a hat trick and Norris scored her second of the night. 

Then, LaPointe struck again in hopes of pulling the Terps closer.

Despite being man-down, Michigan showed its dominance and answered with a goal from Peyton Shreves.

By the end of the third quarter, Michigan had seven different goal scorers – four had multiple goals. 

The fourth quarter was no different, with Michigan continuing to add to its significant lead and not letting Maryland gain an inch.

The Terps have hit a relative rock bottom. This is the worst stretch of their season and with the postseason approaching, they need things to change quickly.