Maryland and North Carolina went head to head for the second time this season on Sunday at Talon Energy Stadium for the Women’s NCAA DI National Championships. Maryland came out on top in the first matchup during the regular season with a final score of 8-7. This is also the 2nd straight year that these two teams have met in the championship. They have also been matched up against each other in 3 out of the last 4.
Women’s NCAA Championship Game Recap
Maryland struck first in the contest with a goal by Zoe Stuckenberg on a free position shot in the first two minutes of the game. North Carolina wasn’t going to let the Terps control the game though and scored the next six goals. With the score being 6-1 with 9:45 left, Maryland needed to dig themselves out of a hole and Megan Whittle gave them hope scoring two goals in a row unassisted followed by one more from Caroline Steele to put the game at 6-4 before the half.
North Carolina opened up the scoring in the second half with an unassisted goal by Aly Messenger. Maryland then made a small surge and got back to within one with goals from Megan Whittle and Taylor Cummings. Things then took a turn for the worst for the Terps and the Tar Heels went on a five goal run to put the score at 12-6 with 10:23 left in the game. Both teams would tally one more goal in the remainder of the game and the Tar Heels took home the Women’s NCAA National Championship with a final score of 13-7.
Maryland
Although Maryland lost, Megan Whittle did get a hat trick and scored one goal at least in each college lacrosse game she played in.
With the loss, Maryland is now 24-13 all time against the Tar Heels. This was the first time Maryland has allowed a team to put up double digits on them this season. The offense for the Terps was held to four or less goals in the first half for the fourth time this season.
This marked Maryland’s 4th consecutive trip to the Women’s NCAA National Championship.
Post Game Conference
Maryland Head Coach Cathy Reese
(Opening remarks)
“First off, I want to give congratulations to North Carolina. They came out today and played well. For us, we didn’t have our best game. It’s tough when you don’t finish your season like your last, but we’re really proud of our team throughout the season and proud of our seniors and the legacy they brought to the University of Maryland.”
Senior midfielder Taylor Cummings
(On her feelings stepping off the field for the last time)
“I’m so proud of my team and the fight we put in today. We played against a really good Carolina team, and they’re better. I’m sad that’s the way my class went out and that’s my last game, but I couldn’t be more thankful.”
(On the state of the team as she graduates)
“This team’s in good hands. We had great leadership in our freshmen, sophomores, juniors. They didn’t play scared today; they didn’t play scared any game. We asked a lot of them. They came into a team that’s known for playing in championships and winning them, and they stepped up. As a senior, they did everything I could have asked of them. Maryland’s in good hands.”
(On having trailed North Carolina before)
“That was definitely in my head. We’ve been in this position before and we were hoping that we could turn it around like last year. Unfortunately, we didn’t. Carolina played us really tough. They found open seams. They made their chances count and we didn’t. Megan Ward played unbelievable, she had fourteen saves today. When you play a goalie that’s hot, you’ve gotta move her, and we didn’t. I think that was our chance and we kind of missed it.
(On the difference at the start of the game)
”I think they just capitalized on their opportunities. We had plenty of them, we just didn’t stick them. You can’t do that against a really good team, and we just did that today.”
Coach Reese
(On the working back from a large deficit)
“To go down early isn’t ideal. Lacrosse is a game of runs. We fought back and almost had one at the end of the half which changes that dynamic even more going into halftime. Taylor [Cummings] put it out there for us, Megan Ward played a great game. We were seven for twenty-eight. That might be my worst shooting game all year, and we sure picked a day to do it on, didn’t we? That’s what’s tough. We need to execute. Our offense has been the highest scoring offense in Division One this year, and today we they just weren’t falling. Credit to Carolina and their defense, but that was an area we struggled in for sure.”
(On differences between this game and the one against North Carolina on Feb. 27)
“I think early on, defensively, we were a step behind. We got beat on a couple back-door cuts, and they capitalized on that. That’s uncharacteristic of us. So, I don’t know. We’d like to think we came out and we weren’t a little timid or hesitant. I think we settled in the last ten minutes of the first half. That ten minutes we were able to generate some offense, play some good defense and had some great stops there. To go down and then dig yourself out is tough. With about fifteen minutes left on the clock, we knew we had to come out and pressure, and unfortunately when we pressured we gave up some easy goals. So that was what it was at that point of the game. They could have just held onto the ball for the remainder of time, so we needed to step out and make sure that wasn’t an option. But that opened up the score a little bit.”
(On her senior class’s legacy)
“I waited outside the locker room and listened to what people think. At the end of the day in all this, you can’t let this sixty minutes define you. I think that’s the one thing, and it’s the hard thing for my seniors like Taylor [Cummings] and Alice [Mercer], to take in. Because they’ve competed their hearts out for four years in a Maryland uniform. They have four losses in their career. To have four losses, two ACC championships, one Big Ten championship, two National Championships, and to have lost two National Championship games, that’s pretty special. There aren’t many people who can say that. Those guys have really led our team this year, we were really young coming into this year. I don’t know if anyone initially expected it from us, but these guys really led the way for us and really took the younger ones with them. To return five of them who have won a national championship last year, participated in the game, we brought a lot of new people in. We’ve really come a long way this season. At the end of the day, we just address it as sixty minutes doesn’t define us. This was a great season, and these are some great kids. They’ll go on to do really good things.”
(On how to use the last sixty minutes to motivate her returners)
“We sat here in 2013 and had just lost in the national championship game as well, and I had some really strong seniors in that class, too. The younger ones felt it. Everyone else on our team hasn’t lost a national championship, and that’s kind of crazy to say. The juniors here, this is their first [loss] because we won it in 2014 and 2015. It’s a feeling that you’ll remember. It stings right now, but this has been a great team. They’ll rebound and, hopefully, this will fuel their fire for next year to just get after it and get back and do our best again and return to the Final Four next year.
(On whether Taylor Cummings is the greatest Maryland player in program history)
“She sure is one of them. I think it’s hard to say when you look at our sport and how much it’s changed. I didn’t have boundaries when I played, boundaries or restraining lines. Things have changed so much, and there have been so many outstanding players throughout our sport. Taylor [Cummings] has had a tremendous career, and she’s the best player of her time. She’s won two Tewaaraton Awards, named the best player of our sport. I don’t think that’s really a question for me, she’s done it. You want to end your career on a win, that’s where it hurts. To go through as a senior and to have lost four games total in your career is pretty impressive.”
(On how North Carolina played today)
“I thought they connected well today, they moved the ball pretty well today. They were hitting back-door cutters, and I think early we were a little too happy on our doubles and just let people inside. They found those people and capitalized. When you go down early in a game of this magnitude, it’s hard to come back from. They shot well. Megan [Taylor] played well in the cage for us, but we were giving up some really easy opportunities which is uncharacteristic of us.”
North Carolina
The Tar Heels claimed their 2nd Women’s National Championship against a Maryland team who hadn’t lost all year and were the two-time defending national champs. This team also improved on their record-breaking season for most wins by a UNC team and finished with 20 wins, the previous mark was 18 by the 2013 and 2015 teams. Not only did they break their own record but they put an end to Maryland’s 26 game winning streak that dated back to the 2015 season.
The Tar Heels are now 17-0 on the season when leading at halftime. There are still 5 active players on the UNC roster who played in the 2013 championship versus Maryland.
Aly Messinger set a career high for assists in a game after putting in four in the first half. She also ranks 2nd in Maryland history for single season assists with 36 and tied her career record for points in a game with 6 after she put away two goals in the second half. Aly also received Most Outstanding Player of the championship.
Goalie Megan Ward had a career high with 14 saves in the game as well. Her 14th save came when she stopped a shot by Maryland’s Taylor Cummings with 11 seconds left in the game.
Marie McCool continued her 32 game point streak with one goal and two assists in the championship. She still has two years of eligibility and will be looking to get Maryland back to the top next season.
Post Game Conference
North Carolina Head Coach Jenny Levy
(Opening remarks)
“Obviously I am very proud of the players and coaching staff that we have, they were gritty and tough all year. Today’s game was no different as we were in tight games all year and I think we played nine one goal games. All year-long we played hard and found ways to win. Congratulations to Maryland on a tremendous season, they were 22-0 going into today’s game. After graduating a large class last year, and coming back from a national championship season this year is tremendous. This game had a feeling that it was tight all game, but I didn’t realize we won by six. Congratulations to our team, the worked hard all year. There was one percent that would believe we would win this game and that one percent is sitting in our locker room all year.”
Senior goalie Megan Ward
(On being back in the National Championship)
“It was a team effort, and being in the championship game and winning it my senior I am very grateful.”
(On starting the National Championship game)
“I was a little bit surprised but it was great, especially after my performance against Penn State. The defense played great in front of me and that definitely helped me today.”
(On the play of the defense)
“They played incredible today. They made it very easy on me today. I think we only had three plays today where we got together and said something went wrong. Everything else was just a great job y Maryland.”
(On comparing the 2013 team to the 2016 National Championship team)
“I think freshman year felt a lot different because we came in as freshman. This year Aly (Messinger) gave a ridiculous speech at half-time and I think that just fueled everyone.”
Senior attack Aly Messinger
(On comparing the 2013 team to the 2016 National Championship team)
“I don’t think it is just a game, but it’s a different team. This team really has a special connection as we have the team to win the National Championship and we did.”
(On scoring on a tough Maryland team)
“We had one-hundred percent confidence every single play. There was no question as to what was going to happen and that was our attitude throughout the game.”
Junior attack Molly Hendrick
(On returning from injury and missing the title game last year)
“It was definitely a lot different then last year. But my teammates helped me through my first final four as a junior, as it was a little different experience. The leaders on this team and everyone helped me through it and become a leader myself.”
Coach Levy
(On decision to start Megan Ward)
“Meg is a senior and she has been in this game before. We also know that when Meg doesn’t play well, in the next game she comes back to play really well. Knowing her connection with her senior class on the field was very strong emotionally. We like to tap into our players emotions and not get to technical in X’s and O’s but how they feel that day. It just shows confidence in this team that we are not afraid to do what is necessary for the team. I can’t tell you what a tremendous person Caylee Waters is because se put us in this situation on Friday night, then going with Meg on Sunday. If that doesn’t show you how selfless this team is, that speaks volumes.”
(On the difference between the 2013 and 2016 team)
“Every year the team is different. It all goes down to what they really want. Once everyone buys in, it doesn’t really matter what they are like as long as they want the same thing. The 2016 season is owned by the 2016 team and they drove the bus this year.”
