No. 3 Maryland women’s lacrosse preview: No. 11 Michigan and Ohio State

After a crushing loss to a conference rival, No. 3 Maryland women’s lacrosse is focusing on finishing out Big Ten play without a hitch.

On April 9, the Terps fell to then-No. 4 Northwestern for the fifth straight time in a contentious 11-10 bout. The loss was largely fueled by a lack of scoring from key contributors and a physical Wildcat defense.

“Our shooting percentage wasn’t great. I think a lot of it, when you rewatch the game, was controllable on our part,” head coach Cathy Reese said.

Maryland begins its final road stretch of the regular season, facing off with No. 11 Michigan on Thursday in Ann Arbor at 8 p.m. Then, the Terps will then close out conference play at Ohio State on Saturday at 4 p.m. Both games will air on Big Ten Network.

No. 11 Michigan Wolverines (10-4, 4-2 Big Ten)

2025 record: 13-7, 5-3 Big Ten

Head coach Hannah Nielsen has found her formula for success in her ninth year at Michigan, with the team peaking as high as third in this year’s national rankings. The Wolverines have taken down multiple top-10 opponents this year and look poised for another NCAA Tournament run. But coming off back-to-back losses, Michigan looks to regroup as it winds down its Big Ten slate.

Players to know

Emma Burke, sophomore midfielder, No. 3 — The midfielder earned a spot on the 2025 All-Big Ten second team after breaking Michigan’s single-season draw record with 135 draw controls. With her 130 draw wins ranking second in the conference, Burke is expected to break her own record.

Emma Bradbury, junior attacker, No. 35 — With 44 points to her name in 2026, Bradbury has cemented herself as the Wolverines’ most effective attacker. The junior ranks second on Michigan with 32 goals, scoring them on just 59 shots. Her six goals against USF were crucial in securing a 16-10 win early this season.

Strength

Defending. The Wolverines have historically been one of the best defensive teams in the Big Ten, and this season is no different. Michigan leads the conference allowing just 8.6 goals per game while posting an 89.6% clearing percentage.

Weakness

Offensive pacing. The Wolverines average 52.5 seconds per possession, ranking 124th according to Lacrosse Reference. This relaxed rhythm may be a reason for Michigan’s limited scoring, as it averages just 11.9 goals per game on 388 shots.

Ohio State Buckeyes (8-6, 3-4 Big Ten)

2025 record: 8-7, 1-7 Big Ten

Head coach Amanda Moore looks to achieve her first Big Ten Tournament win in her third year with the program. Ohio State has looked sluggish in recent times — missing out on a conference tournament berth in 2025 — but has shown signs of promise this season, sneaking into the IWLCA rankings on multiple occasions.

Players to know

Camryn Callaghan, senior attacker, No. 10 — Callaghan is the heart and soul of the Buckeyes’ scoring attack, leading the team with 39 goals. Her scoring this season has stood among the best in the Big Ten with her 2.7 goals per game standing fifth in the conference.

Kate Tyack, junior attacker, No. 13 — Alongside Callaghan, Tyack has been extremely productive in her second year as a consistent starter. Her versatility from the elbow has been huge for Ohio State, and her 52 points currently sit at 13th in the conference.

Strength

Shooting accuracy. The Buckeyes have tormented goalies all season long with impeccable shot choice, sitting top three in the conference in team shooting percentage (46.7%) and shots on goal percentage (73.3%). This will almost certainly test JJ Suriano’s composure in the crease.

Weakness

Shooting attempts. Ohio State’s attackers have appeared somewhat coy in attempting shots, sitting second to last in the Big Ten with 375 on the season. This hesitancy is  likely behind the team’s lack of total goal production, only averaging 13.5 goals per game.

Three things to watch

1. The big three. With Maryland’s top three scorers held to five goals against Northwestern, its attack will need to make crucial adjustments heading into its jam-packed finale. Reese says that shooting accuracy was a big missing piece for the Terps in their last few games.

“They’re all capable of putting the ball in the back of their net,” Reese said. “So hopefully… our scoring’s balanced, and we’re executing [and] we’re shooting over 50%.”

2. Will the eight-meters fall? Throughout the season, Maryland has struggled mightily to finish on free positions. The Terps have made just six of their last 19 eight-meter chances and will need to polish up on the arc to stop leaving goals on the table.

3. Can Maryland earn a break? With the regular season coming to a close, the battle for first in the conference has tightened significantly. Maryland needs to win out to secure the No. 1 seed and a bye in the Big Ten Tournament, or it will risk losing the top spot to Northwestern.