Maryland women’s lacrosse vs. James Madison preview: Terps go back on the road

Coming off a low-scoring affair against Penn, Maryland women’s lacrosse will play its first road game in three weeks against James Madison. The Terps beat the Dukes 18-6 last season in College Park.

James Madison Dukes (6-4)

Head Coach Shelley Klaes-Bawcombe. In her 11th season at James Madison, Klaes-Bawcombe has 115 wins in her tenure. She has lead James Madison to four of the last seven NCAA Tournaments, and was the National Coach of the Year following the 2010 season.

Players to Watch

Hanna Haven, 5’7, midfield, No. 4. Haven is the Dukes’ points and goals leader this year, with 30 and 22 respectively through 10 games. The sophomore’s breakout season also includes eight free position goals and a shot on goal percentage of .698.

Haley Warden, 5’8, midfield, No. 25. Warden, a junior, leads James Madison in draw controls with 30 and caused turnovers with 24. Her 26 ground balls rank second on the team, while she’s also contributed 15 goals on the season.

Strength

Defense. For the third straight game, the Tarps are playing a strong defensive team. James Madison ranks 10th in the country allowing only 8.40 goals per game. Maryland had their worst offensive game against Penn, who is ranked ninth in this category.

Weakness

Draw Controls. The Dukes are only averaging 11.6 draw controls per game, which stands alone at 66 in the nation. Since most of the Terps struggles come from losing draw controls and failing to get the ball out of their zone, they shouldn’t have as much trouble in that area Saturday.

Three Things to Watch

1. Crowded schedule. This will be Maryland’s third game in seven days as the Terps’ schedule gets more compact. While this isn’t a surprise, it is worth watching if the increase in competitive play has an effect on the team.
2. Decrease in competition. For the first time in three games, Maryland isn’t playing a nationally ranked team. This should be a welcome sight as the Terps are coming off an inconsistent performance on Wednesday against a top 15 team.
3. Kali Hartshorn. The freshman is coming off a hat trick and has been impressive in her first season with the Terps. Her 42 draw controls leads the team, and while Cathy Reese is easing the other freshman into play, her trust in Hartshorn from the beginning is paying off.