For some odd reason, the Big Ten insisted that the Maryland women's lacrosse team actually play games before the league started doling out weekly honors to one Terrapin or another. In each of the three weeks since the Terps actually began play, at least one Maryland player has claimed a B1G weekly honor. The latest Terp to join the parade is senior goalkeeper Alex Fitzpatrick who was named the conference Defensive Player of the Week Monday.
The redshirt senior transfer from Lehigh registered seven saves while conceding just four goals in just over 53 minutes of play in the Terrapins' 14-6 win over Hofstra Saturday. As the Terps improved their record to 3-0 in the young season, Fitzpatrick improved her save percentage to .438. Fitzpatrick and her teammates have given up just 22 goals in Maryland's three games, including holding the high-powered North Carolina Tar Heels to just 11 -- more than five below their season average.
Fitzgerald has been the anchor behind a defense that has conceded just 39 shots on goal in the first three games and she has, together with her defensive mates, allowed only four goals on 11 free position attempts or 36.4 percent. For comparison, Maryland has converted 12 of 18 free position shots or 66.7 percent.
The Terps open a two-game home stand Wednesday night at 7:00 p.m. when they host intrastate rival UMBC. The fifth-ranked Syracuse Orange come to College Park Saturday in a rematch of the 2014 national championship game that Maryland won 15-12.