Sophomore Jen Giles notched a career-high eight points on four goals and four assists to pace No. 1 Maryland to a 20-10 victory over No. 4 Penn State in Friday’s NCAA Semifinals at Gillette Stadium. Freshman Kali Hartshorn and junior Taylor Hensh both added four goals for the Terps, while sophomore goalie Megan Taylor made 10 saves to propel Maryland to its fifth straight NCAA Championship game. Maryland’s 20 goals set a new NCAA semifinal game record.
The Terps will take on the winner of Friday evening’s semifinal between Boston College and Navy on Sunday, May 28 at 11:00 a.m. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN and available to stream via WatchESPN.
After Penn State notched the opening goal of the contest the Terps quickly answered, netting the next four to go up 4-1. Senior Caroline Wannen started the surged to tie things up at the 27:58 mark, before a pair of goals from Stukenberg and Giles goal had the Terps ahead 4-1 with 24:25 to go.
Maryland would maintain at least a two-goal cushion for the remainder of the half, before opening up the scoring down the stretch with four of the final five goals for an 11-5 edge at the half. The Terps took control on the draw winning 12 of 17 off the Nittany Lions in the first.
The Terps picked up right where they left off in the second, scoring three of the first four goals in the half to push the lead to 14-6. The Terrapin defense stifled Big Ten Attacker of the Year Steph Lazo, allowing the Nittany Lion senior just two points on the day.
Senior Zoe Stukenberg and junior Megan Whittle both added three goals apiece, while Hartshorn recorded a game-high nine draw controls.
Maryland will make its 21st all-time appearance in the National Title game Sunday, and has now defeated its semifinal opponent by 10 goals for the second straight season (2016 – Syracuse, 19-9).
Hal Mendelson
Here I am in the hotbed of Lacrosse and the fabulous lady terps are in the final four and I have to watch it on my computer because ESPN has teams from the southwest playing softball. Don’t they know that we watch Lacrosse here not soft-f’n_ball. Can we mount a letter campaign to inform them that we want to see important Lacrosse matches. Just from a financial aspect their sponsors, especially on the east coast will gain a lot more viewers watching womens Lacrosse. I have to say it: this frustrates me every bit as much as Turgeon’s poor coaching.
· 11/12/2019