Maryland Recruiting

[uncfan1013]

Families can attend. There’s a whole side of family on other other side of the field. You just have to be on the list that BC has.

[Essexfenwick]

Let's be honest. A meaningful percentage of top players (probably 25-33%) won't even look at MD because of their field hockey turf. Until that changes I can't see recruiting getting much better.

Do you really think that's the case??? Seems like maybe a tie breaker if two teams are equal. (That said, tough to believe that UMD doesn't have a lax only facility).

Clearly, I’m guessing with percentages but 2 girls from
My 25’s club team (both top 50 players) didn’t visit MD for this reason and committed to another top 20 school.

Yeah, I am with Spidey here. I just can't see a substantial number of recruits getting so upset over how the field is painted that they bypass the opportunity to attend a top program with Maryland's history of success. Sure, 5 star recruits do have options but we are also talking about a niche sport with only a handful of truly elite programs. It's not like Northwestern, Boston College, or Syracuse don't play on artificial turf.

I have to agree with you. I can’t see the surface being a deal killer. A coach can be, even other kids, distance from home, money, but not the surface and especially from a perennial top 10 program with rich history. People just love to hate on Maryland.

When you’re the team of the lacrosse state and have too many championships for anybody to catch up with the graspers are going to nip at your heels.

Only 13 more nattys to go for them. But bless their hearts.

[Kleizaster]

It always amuses me whenever people bring up the notion that recruiting doesn't matter. It is literally the job of a coach at a top program to bring in top talent. i mean cmon people..it's not rocket science. if you don't, you lose. if you lose, you lose your job. These coaches don't spend long summers traveling and visiting high schoolers for the fun of it.

Yes recruiting is not everything. you need a variety of factors to go right in order to win a championship. However, recruiting is a big part of that. to dismiss it and call it politics is ridiculous. I'm sorry but you can't win without elite talent. Look at all the national champions.. forever. All had highly touted players coming out of HS. same reason why a school like coastal carolina isn't winning a championship anytime soon. yes not all of these talented players pan out, but that's to be expected. The laws of averages says it will happen. It's not because recruiting doesn't work.

you need talent. Especially at a school like Maryland. Because you're competing with other top schools that you need to beat. you cant beat them if they have better players than you. is this not common sense?

bringing up UNC to say hey well look all the talent they have or get, how come they're not winning it all every year is misguided. Just like alabama, or ohio state, or the yankees aren't winning it all every year. Having talent simply gives you the best CHANCE to win more often than not. Guarantees nothing. Nothing in life is guaranteed.

there is favoritism at times in youth lacrosse because of connections. but for the most part, these players are ranked on merit. there is a clear correlation between top 25 players comming out of High school, the schools they go to, and collegiate success. that is a fact. so why do we keep having this discussion?

[Seacoaster(1)]

"It always amuses me whenever people bring up the notion that recruiting doesn't matter. "

Who are these people?

[crimlawyer27]

So far, 2026 recruiting, besides CR’s daughter, seems to be well below UNC, BC, UVA, FL, etc… MD kids are going out of state. CR historically has done well keeping kids home, but not for the last 4-5 years. Interestingly, I noticed no M&D kids are coming to MD. I think the last one was Kori Edmondson and the McDonogh pipeline seems to have dried up. My worries have come to fruition.

[Can Opener]

Playing lacrosse on Astroturf does not help recruiting.

[MDstateMan]

So far, 2026 recruiting, besides CR’s daughter, seems to be well below UNC, BC, UVA, FL, etc… MD kids are going out of state. CR historically has done well keeping kids home, but not for the last 4-5 years. Interestingly, I noticed no M&D kids are coming to MD. I think the last one was Kori Edmondson and the McDonogh pipeline seems to have dried up. My worries have come to fruition.

Could that be related to the Hero's / Maryvale connection?

[LaxUpstate]

Playing lacrosse on Astroturf does not help recruiting.

I agree with this.

[njbill]

Playing lacrosse on Astroturf does not help recruiting.

Maryland’s field hockey turf has long been considered to give the team a home field advantage. Lots of reasons that Maryland’s recruiting has dipped of late, but I doubt their field has anything to do with it.

[hmmm]

Playing lacrosse on Astroturf does not help recruiting.

Maryland’s field hockey turf has long been considered to give the team a home field advantage. Lots of reasons that Maryland’s recruiting has dipped of late, but I doubt their field has anything to do with it.

I agree with this. It's way down the list.

[Laxfh2414]

So far, 2026 recruiting, besides CR’s daughter, seems to be well below UNC, BC, UVA, FL, etc… MD kids are going out of state. CR historically has done well keeping kids home, but not for the last 4-5 years. Interestingly, I noticed no M&D kids are coming to MD. I think the last one was Kori Edmondson and the McDonogh pipeline seems to have dried up. My worries have come to fruition.

McDonogh pipeline not dried up yet......and the 2022 and 2023 MD recruiting classes have several M&D kids

[MDstateMan]

So far, 2026 recruiting, besides CR’s daughter, seems to be well below UNC, BC, UVA, FL, etc… MD kids are going out of state. CR historically has done well keeping kids home, but not for the last 4-5 years. Interestingly, I noticed no M&D kids are coming to MD. I think the last one was Kori Edmondson and the McDonogh pipeline seems to have dried up. My worries have come to fruition.

McDonogh pipeline not dried up yet......and the 2022 and 2023 MD recruiting classes have several M&D kids

At their peak, UMD had over 16 girls from IAAM schools.

[hmmm]

So far, 2026 recruiting, besides CR’s daughter, seems to be well below UNC, BC, UVA, FL, etc… MD kids are going out of state. CR historically has done well keeping kids home, but not for the last 4-5 years. Interestingly, I noticed no M&D kids are coming to MD. I think the last one was Kori Edmondson and the McDonogh pipeline seems to have dried up. My worries have come to fruition.

McDonogh pipeline not dried up yet......and the 2022 and 2023 MD recruiting classes have several M&D kids

At their peak, UMD had over 16 girls from IAAM schools.

They had 13 last year.

[njbill]

With Robinson and now her husband, Cathy has had tiptop IAAM scouting for many years.

[Kleizaster]

An overlooked aspect of this recruiting funk was the decision to leave the ACC. It hurt Maryland in women's lacrosse. The draw for recruits to play in the best conference in the sport is a real one. When Maryland was the top dog, they were battle tested. Cuse, BC, UNC, all had to get through them. and those games were epic. That aspect is now lost. Not saying the Big 10 isn't competitive but those ACC rivalries gave it a different dimension.

[Testudo98]

This is very true. Leaving the ACC has hurt MD women’s lacrosse. When the ACC breaks apart, it may have been our saving grace.

[user1020]

Not sure if someone posted this and I missed it, but Laake to UMD. Good pickup for the Terps. Local, McDonogh girl.

[intheknow247]

So far, 2026 recruiting, besides CR’s daughter, seems to be well below UNC, BC, UVA, FL, etc… MD kids are going out of state. CR historically has done well keeping kids home, but not for the last 4-5 years. Interestingly, I noticed no M&D kids are coming to MD. I think the last one was Kori Edmondson and the McDonogh pipeline seems to have dried up. My worries have come to fruition.

McDonogh pipeline not dried up yet......and the 2022 and 2023 MD recruiting classes have several M&D kids

Very slow drip...same with M&D pipeline.

[MDstateMan]

So far, 2026 recruiting, besides CR’s daughter, seems to be well below UNC, BC, UVA, FL, etc… MD kids are going out of state. CR historically has done well keeping kids home, but not for the last 4-5 years. Interestingly, I noticed no M&D kids are coming to MD. I think the last one was Kori Edmondson and the McDonogh pipeline seems to have dried up. My worries have come to fruition.

McDonogh pipeline not dried up yet......and the 2022 and 2023 MD recruiting classes have several M&D kids

Very slow drip...same with M&D pipeline.

Last two years (2025 & 2026) M&D has had the highest or 2nd highest rated goalie and neither stayed home. Not sure that would happen 5 years ago.

[LaxPM]

So far, 2026 recruiting, besides CR’s daughter, seems to be well below UNC, BC, UVA, FL, etc… MD kids are going out of state. CR historically has done well keeping kids home, but not for the last 4-5 years. Interestingly, I noticed no M&D kids are coming to MD. I think the last one was Kori Edmondson and the McDonogh pipeline seems to have dried up. My worries have come to fruition.

McDonogh pipeline not dried up yet......and the 2022 and 2023 MD recruiting classes have several M&D kids

Very slow drip...same with M&D pipeline.

Last two years (2025 & 2026) M&D has had the highest or 2nd highest rated goalie and neither stayed home. Not sure that would happen 5 years ago.

Maryland has only had 2 goalies since 2016 - Meg Taylor & Emily Sterling. JJ Suriano looks like she could lock up that spot for the next 4 years now. Lack of available playing time probably has more to do with it than anything.