Despite NCAA loss, Terps have a bright future

Coming into this season, the last thing the Terrapin women's lacrosse team was supposed to do was improve.

Five of the top six scorers, two of their best defenders and the goalie from the highly touted 2008 squad had graduated. And if that senior-packed roster had faltered in the postseason, this year's Terps, with only four returning starters in a senior-free starting lineup, could not be expected to fare better.

But the 2009 Terps ignored the skeptics and surpassed all expectations except their own, going undefeated in the regular season, earning the program's first ACC Championship and Final Four berth since 2003.

"We were a team that went into February where people were second-guessing us and second-guessing what team we were going to put on the field," said coach Cathy Reese, who garnered ACC and WomensLacrosse.com Coach of the Year honors. "And I think we've demonstrated that we have a talented group of student athletes and a great group of lacrosse players. They stepped on the field and ended the season 21-1 and came into the NCAA Tournament with a No. 2 seed, and I think that says a lot about this team."

Though the Terps suffered their first and only defeat of the year to North Carolina in the Final Four, two wins short of their ultimate goal, their season was full of impressive accomplishments.

Behind a fast-paced offense and many second-half surges, the Terps won every game in the regular season, most by convincing margins, for their first undefeated regular season since 2001, the last year they won the national title. That included victories against 11 ranked opponents, such as Duke and Virginia, the ACC rivals responsible for all three of their 2008 losses.

"We didn't listen to what other people said," midfielder and co-captain Caitlyn McFadden said. "It was all about this team."

Even after going down by four goals to the Blue Devils in the ACC Tournament title game, the Terps avoided stumbling under pressure, storming back to win 12-11 and take the championship.

"We took this season one game at a time, and that was our only focus as we went into every game," Reese said. "There wasn't any pressure - just the desire within ourselves to get better every game."

The Terps earned the No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament behind undefeated No. 1 seed Northwestern, who went on to take the national crown. The Terps broke through to the semifinal round for the first time in Reese's three years as coach, though they lost 8-7 to the Tar Heels.

But though the Terp attack failed to produce in the Final Four, the explosive offense averaged 15.55 goals per game, the third-highest total in the country.

That success resulted from creating opportunities off transitions and breakaways. Though they only made 47.8 percent of their shots, they averaged 32.5 shots per game, overwhelming opposing defenses.

The defense, though often overshadowed by the successful attack, did its part as well. Freshman goalie Brittany Dipper had to fight for the starting job at the beginning of the year but ended with the lowest goals-against average in the ACC.

On offense, the Terps were led by McFadden, one of the few returning starters, who was named ACC Player of the Year. The Tewaaraton Trophy finalist tied for the team lead with 86 points.

Attacker Karri Ellen Johnson scored 74 goals, earning ACC and Rookie of the Year honors.

Next year, with all 12 starters returning, the expectations for the Terps will certainly be sky-high.

Even after their loss to No. 3 seed North Carolina last month, Reese admitted that bright future was in the back of her mind.

"We're going to have another outstanding season next year," Reese said.

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