Taylor's 10: Recapping Rivalry Week

Taylor Cummings is a three-time Tewaaraton Award winner, a two-time gold medalist with the U.S. women’s national team, the inaugural Athletes Unlimited Lacrosse champion and the head coach at McDonogh (Md.). “Taylor’s 10” is presented by Gait Lacrosse. Be legendary.

At this time of the year, people always look forward to the upcoming conference championships. Believe me, so do I. However, one of my favorite weeks in the entire season just occurred — Rivalry Week.

I love watching longtime conference foes battle it out at the end of the season right before conference championship play — not only because the level of play is so high, but because we often get a preview of what the finals might look like in just a few weeks.

Rivalry games are so much fun to be a part of because it’s about so much more than just winning. It’s about tradition. It's about school pride. And it's about bragging rights, not just going into conference championship play, but for the rest of the year, too.

My favorite games to play in when I was in college were against Syracuse and North Carolina when Maryland was in the ACC and against Northwestern when we were in the Big 10. Not only were these some of the top teams in the country every single year, but they were teams that pushed us and competed hard from the opening whistle until the last. No matter each team’s record, graduation losses from the year prior or current rankings, these games always proved to be close battles. These were the type of games I wanted to compete in when choosing Maryland as a recruit.

This season’s Rivalry Week showcased some of the best lacrosse I’ve seen this season. We had upset victories, tight battles and outstanding individual performances that were highlights of the entire spring. I have a feeling we will see many repeats of these games in just a few weeks!

North Carolina 13, Duke 12

Part of me was surprised that this game was as close as it was and part of me wasn’t. On paper and record-wise, the Tar Heels were the heavy favorites and the team that I expected to win by at least seven goals. But the Blue Devils used their edge at the draw circle and methodical offensive play to keep this game close. The relentless play of UNC’s underclassmen attackers gave them the edge late, as they were able to breakdown Duke’s sturdy defense in their last few possessions.

Virginia 15, Virginia Tech 10

This score was close to the outcome I expected. The Hokies are a gritty team that always competes hard, but I had a feeling the Cavaliers’ depth on the offensive end would prove to be too much. Virginia had seven different contributors on offense led by Rachel Clark’s seven points and limited Virginia Tech goalie Jocelyn Torres to a 32-percent save percentage. These two teams love to compete against one another.

Denver 15, Georgetown 2

Denver’s recipe for success all season has been a steady offense, a smothering defensive unit, exceptional goalie play and draw dominance. The Pioneers’ effort against Georgetown was a masterclass in game planning and execution, as they ticked every box imaginable. Nine players tallied between one and four points, the defense limited the Hoyas to just two goals, Emelia Bohi had an unreal 75-percent save percentage and the draw team corralled 16 draws. The Pios are ranked No. 3 nationally, and this complete dismantling of Georgetown showed why.

Boston College 17, Syracuse 16

This game was special, not just because of the talented teams and close score, but the many connections between their staffs. Between Kayla Treanor, Acacia Walker-Weinstein, Sam Apuzzo and Kenzie Kent, there’s a ton of friendship and respect and even more competitive spirit. The Orange jumped out to an early multi-goal lead that remained well into the second half, but the Eagles chipped away until they took over with a minute left. BC’s methodical dismantling of Syracuse’s zone and stellar play by freshman goalie Shea Dolce late in the game were the difference makers.

Northwestern 13, Maryland 6

This game was a tale of two halves. I was impressed with Maryland’s efforts in the first two quarters, as the Terps methodically attacked Northwestern’s zone, created turnovers between the 30s and limited Northwestern stars Izzy Scane and Erin Coykendall. They even had many opportunities to go ahead in the second quarter off free positions and doorstep shots. But the exceptional play of Molly Laliberty and Hailey Rhatigan were all that Northwestern needed to turn the tide and run away with the Big Ten title in the second half. I’m curious to see what round two of this storied rivalry looks like.

Stony Brook 14, Towson 11

Newly forged conference rivals, Stony Brook and Towson went to battle on Saturday in what very likely will be the CAA conference championship game. I was impressed with how well Towson dissected the Seawolves’ zone, as well as their ability to limit All-American midfielder Ellie Masera to three goals. However, that limitation of Masera came at a price, as Stony Brook attacker Jolie Creo was able to have much more time and room to feed. She finished the day with a mighty impressive eight assists and could be the hidden gem for Stony Brook moving forward.

Johns Hopkins 16, Penn State 12

These Big 10 foes have had many close battles over the years, many of which have gone in favor of Penn State. Under new head coach Tim McCormick, the Blue Jays took down the Nittany Lions on Saturday to secure a crucial No. 3 seed in the Big Ten tournament. Johns Hopkins center Annie Marshall’s return could not have come at a better time, as she secured nine draws against a talented PSU draw team. Offensive balance also played a role, as nine players keyed in on the action to secure the much-needed victory.

Fairfield 10, Canisius 8

Canisius and Fairfield have been the top teams in the MAAC for much of its existence, but this season, Fairfield sits atop the conference standings with Canisius a rare No. 6 seed. Canisius midfielders Caroline Netti and Skylar MacArthur put up quite a fight, and goalie Jody Chu had an amazing day with 12 saves, but Fairfield scoring threats Elizabeth Talluto and Libby Rowe answered every chance they got. The composure of Fairfield across the board was the deciding factor.

Army 15, Navy 11

It’s rare that a rivalry game with storied programs is highlighted by two freshmen, but that was the case coming into this spring’s Army-Navy matchup. Army’s Brigid Duffy and Navy’s Amy Yovino have had exceptional first-year campaigns and have been the offensive spark plugs for their respective teams all season. In the end, though, the all-around play of Duffy was solid but was overshadowed by the record-breaking scoring of lefty attacker Allison Reilly — another freshman — who finished with nine goals and 12 points. Grit on the draw circle and precision on woman-up opportunities also gave Army the edge.

UMass 15, Saint Joseph’s 12

It’s often the teams that face one another in championship moments develop true and long-lasting rivalries. Such is the case for UMass and Saint Josephs’s, as the Minutewomen avenged their 2022 Atlantic 10 championship loss on Saturday thanks to a balanced effort across the field. Eight scorers, a strong defensive showing and perfect clearing were the recipes for success. I was particularly impressed with the play of Amy Moreau, a do-it-all midfielder for UMass who makes an impact at both ends as well as in the draw circle.