No. 3 Maryland women’s lacrosse at No. 7 Johns Hopkins preview
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After its win on Sunday, No. 3 Maryland women’s lacrosse stands as one of just four undefeated teams in Division 1 lacrosse.
On Thursday, Maryland’s flawless record will face its toughest test yet against No. 7 Johns Hopkins. The Blue Jays have improved by leaps and bounds from last year and look to topple the Terps at home.
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The game will begin at 4 p.m. on Thursday. It will take place at Homewood Field in Baltimore and stream on Big Ten Plus.
Johns Hopkins Blue Jays (10-1, 3-0 Big Ten)
2025 record: 13-7, 5-3 Big Ten
Johns Hopkins head coach Tim McCormack enters his fourth year in Charm City after three seasons of managed success. The Blue Jays have clinched berths in the second round of the NCAA Tournament in every year of his tenure. McCormack has also coached four All-American winning players during that span.
Contrary to the contentious history between the two men’s programs known as, “The Rivalry,” the women’s side has been anything but that. The Terps hold a 27-0 record against Johns Hopkins, a series dating back to the first meeting between the teams in 1979.
However, the Blue Jays currently cling to a narrow lead in conference standings due to playing one more Big Ten matchup than Maryland.
Players to watch
Ava Angello, senior attacker, No. 18 — Coming off a hat trick against Ohio State that included her 200th career goal, Angello has cemented herself as an all-time Johns Hopkins great. This season, her 42 goals and 60 points both lead the Blue Jays as she looks to claim a national title in her final season with the program.
Reagan O’Brien, senior defender, No. 9 — Commanding one of the most productive defensive units in the game, O’Brien is a big reason why Johns Hopkins’ ranking is as high as it is. The senior ranks first on the team with 47 caused turnovers and second with 37 ground balls.
Lacey Downey, junior midfielder, No. 40 — Downey’s prowess as a two-way midfielder has been on full display this season, coming off a full season of starts in 2025. The junior has been all over the field this season, ranking first on the team with 39 ground balls and second in goals (31), assists (22), caused turnovers (30) and draw controls (21).
Strength
Gaining possession and re-defending. With strong contributors both in the midfield and backline, the Blue Jays have been harder to maintain possession against than nearly any other team. Johns Hopkins only allows 9.6 goals per game while also leading the conference with 21.6 ground balls per game and 15.1 caused turnovers per game, five more than any other team.
Weakness
Between the posts. Perhaps the biggest strength of the Blue Jays’ defense is their ability to mask their inconsistencies in the crease. Sophomore goalkeeper Ashley Langdon has had a very rough season, as her 37% save percentage has placed her at the bottom of consistently starting netminders in the Big ten and has forced McCormack to pull her on multiple occasions.
Three things to watch
1. Is Maryland’s defense built to last? Although impressive all season long, the backline’s best moments have primarily come in the first quarter. Then once the Terps build up a hefty lead, the defense will ease off, most recently evidenced in their 15-9 win over Penn where they led 11-3 at the half. Additionally, multiple injuries on the defensive side of the ball have sidelined key players and forced bench players into uncharted waters.
2. Can the Terps climb the table? With a win on Thursday, Maryland would effectively place itself at the top of the Big Ten table. The Terps haven’t claimed a conference championship since 2022, but would be putting themselves in prime position if they came into the Big Ten Tournament as the top-seeded team.
3. Gilmore’s growth. Coming off of a successful first season where she earned Big Ten Freshman of the year honors, the sophomore has built upon last year’s successes. Gilmore has solidified her leading role in the draw circle, recording 64 draw controls so far. However, her goalscoring has been on display in the last three games, scoring three times on five shots.