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The Maryland women’s lacrosse team earned their sixth straight No. 1 overall seed in the 2018 NCAA Tournament. The Terps ended their 2017 campaign as the National Champions, defeating No. 3 Boston College 16-13. Just a year later the two powerhouse programs met in the Final Four and this time the No. 1 Terrapins were defeated.
The Terps are looking to earn their seventh straight No. 1 seed and get back to the National Championship, but they'll have to get past a tough regular season schedule in 2019. The full 17-game slate was announced Wednesday.
Is it Spring yet?
— Maryland Women's Lax (@MarylandWLax) December 19, 2018
Our 2019 schedule is here! https://t.co/WNQb1rM3Xx#FearTheTurtle pic.twitter.com/zTtv3pzveW
“We are really excited to get out on the field this spring,” head coach Cathy Reese said in a press release. “This team, led by an amazing senior class, is going to be a lot of fun to watch. We can't wait to compete against a challenging schedule.”
The 2019 schedule features 11 opponents that finished the 2018 season in the IWLCA Coaches Poll, including five that finished in the top 10. Maryland will host a 2018 Final Four team in the North Carolina Tar Heels, and will travel to James Madison (the defending champions), Florida and Northwestern.
The Terps will play weekend contests at Capital One Field At Maryland Stadium and weekday contests at Ludwig Field, as the Field Hockey and Lacrosse Complex will undergo construction.
Big Ten play will begin on Saturday, March 16, when the Ohio State Buckeyes come to College Park. The Big Ten tournament will be in Baltimore at Johns Hopkins University on May 3 and May 5. The NCAA Tournament will begin on May 10 with the first three rounds being at campus sites and the Final Four in Baltimore.
Here’s the Terps’ full regular-season schedule:
| Date | Opponent | 2018 rank |
|---|---|---|
| Date | Opponent | 2018 rank |
| Feb. 9 | vs. George Mason | |
| Feb. 14 | @ Florida | 9 |
| Feb. 24 | vs. North Carolina | 5 |
| Feb. 27 | @ UMBC | |
| March 2 | @ Hofstra | |
| March 9 | vs. Syracuse | 19 |
| March 13 | vs. Penn | 10 |
| March 16 | vs. Ohio State | |
| March 21 | @ Penn State | 16 |
| March 24 | @ James Madison | 4 (champs) |
| March 27 | vs. Princeton | 18 |
| March 30 | @ Rutgers | |
| April 3 | @ Virginia | RV |
| April 6 | vs. Michigan | |
| April 11 | @ Northwestern | 7 |
| April 17 | vs. Georgetown | |
| April 27 | vs. Johns Hopkins | RV |
In other news
On the first day of the early signing period, Maryland football officially added six players to its 2019 recruiting class. Five of those players — Isaiah Hazel, Deonte Banks, Dino Tomlin, Lavonte Gater and Mason Lunsford — were already verbally committed. The one surprise came from Malik Jackson, as the No. 1 tight end in the state of Maryland flipped his commitment from UConn to the Terps.
Head coach Mike Locksley was optimistic when speaking with reporters about his signing class.
Maryland did miss out on defensive tackle Cam Goode, who will join UCF in January.
The No. 5 Maryland women's basketball team travels to take on the Delaware Blue Hens this afternoon. Sean Montiel has the preview.
From The Washington Post, Shakira Austin is making quite the impact as a freshman on Brenda Frese’s squad.
And from PressBox, Darryl Morsell’s Baltimore roots mean “everything” to him.