Taylor's Takes: The Midseason ABCs of 2024

Another awesome week of women’s lacrosse has come and gone, so let’s dive into the ABCs of the 2024 season as of now!

A is for AAC — The AAC looks to be a battle between Florida and James Madison once again. Both are having great seasons, each earning quality wins while also dropping losses to ranked squads. Their battle on April 13 is one we should all have circled on our calendars.

B is for BTBs — Behind the backs, around the worlds and twizzlers have been staples. The creativity of players on the offensive end with their passes and shot selections is higher than ever, and it’s inspiring the next generation. Just check out Cassidy Spilis’ highlight from the Maryland-Rutgers game!

C is for CAA — The CAA will be one of the most interesting conference tournaments. Delaware, Stony Brook and Drexel are emerging as the top leaders, but other conference foes are in the hunt. The performance of the Blue Hens this spring has been mighty impressive with big wins over Georgetown and Lehigh, but they just dropped a game against Towson, which shakes things up even more.

D is for Denver — Denver’s record may not be what it was in 2023, but the Pios are still having a quality year and are the heavy favorites in the Big East. Julia Gilbert is as solid as they come offensively, and Sam Thacker is one of the strongest defenders in all of Division I, so I wouldn’t count out Denver.

E is for Eldredge — Lindenwood’s Logann Eldredge is one of the nation’s top point producers and goal scorers. With two eight-goal games against Radford and Youngstown State and a 49-percent shooting rate, it’s clear Eldredge has a nose for the cage.

F is for facilities — One of my favorite parts of this season has been watching schools invest in women’s lacrosse, specifically with their facilities. Clemson and Maryland have recently unveiled their new state of the art buildings that are both beautiful and functional, and I hope to see more around the country.

G is for green cards — The experimental green card rule throughout the midfield was one that I was fascinated to watch play out. The games have been cleaner with fewer cross checks, which is absolutely a positive, but the cards have also resulted in far too many man-up opportunities and longer games. Hopefully there is a way to find balance with this issue moving forward and come to a solution that keeps players safe and game times down.

H is for High Point — High Point’s Esprit Cha is having a standout year, leading her team in points while maintaining an over 54-percent shooting rate. A dynamic midfielder, the junior’s high-level play will need to continue if the Panthers are to secure an automatic NCAA bid.

I is for Ivy League — The Ivy League is tougher than ever with five teams currently ranked in the IWLCA’s Top 25. Even currently unranked teams Cornell, Dartmouth and Columbia have been shaking things up in and out of the conference and will be tough opponents as conference play gets underway.

J is for Jackie Wolak — Jackie Wolak is having another incredible season for Notre Dame, leading the Irish in both goals and assists. Wolak’s ability to escape a face guard (something she’s seen quite a bit) and then make something happen with her limited touches is truly impressive.  

K is for Katie DeSimone — Katie DeSimone is top three in the country in both overall points and goals, which is not an easy feat. DeSimone has a bag of tricks at her disposal and can score both off the dodge and the cut, making her extremely difficult to cover.

L is for Le Moyne — Le Moyne is the NEC’s top team at the moment, but with seven more conference battles to go, it’s difficult to predict if the Dolphins will remain there come season’s end. With Sarah Hutchings leading on offense and Paige Crandall having a stellar year in cage, the Dolphins have many solid pieces in place.

M is for Michigan — Michigan is having its best year in program history and is ranked second in the country with an undefeated record. Attacker Jill Smith is always at the forefront of conversations about prolific attackers (rightfully so), but teammate Kaylee Dyer is making her own argument this season. Dyer goes hard to cage, makes things happen for the Wolverines and thrives in pressure situations.

N is for the Nittany Lions — Penn State took down the No. 1 team in the nation on Friday evening with crisp ball movement, stout defense and pure belief in their game plan and one another. Penn State has had a roller coaster of a season, but if the Nittany Lions play like they did against Northwestern, they could beat anyone.

O is for Olivia Adamson — Syracuse’s Olivia Adamson is emerging as the offensive leader that the Orange have been looking for. With more than 40 points, Adamson is someone who can make something out of nothing and will put the team on her back in tight situations. Her greatest gift is her cutting and quick finishing ability, making her a nightmare to face when playing a zone defense.

P is for parity — There is so much parity, and as I said last week, “on any given day” has never applied more than right now. For instance, in this season alone, Notre Dame beat North Carolina, North Carolina lost to Syracuse, and Syracuse beat Notre Dame. This has been the story in many other conferences, and I feel like it will continue until the very end.

Q is for the Quakers — Penn was the next underdog to take down a No. 1 team, as the Quakers beat new-No. 1 Maryland 13-9 on Wednesday in College Park. Penn, ranked No. 10 in the USA Lacrosse Top 20, is the Ivy League favorite as things stand right now.

R is for Richmond — Richmond sits atop the A-10 standings, with St. Bonaventure and UMass not far behind. With Davidson and Saint Joseph’s also having solid seasons, this conference tournament will be fun to watch play out.

S is for saves — Central Michigan’s Alexa Martel leads the country in saves and had impressive performances against some of the nation’s top teams in Colorado and Michigan, with 57-percent and 54-percent save rates, respectively. If Central Michigan is to make a big run in MAC conference play, Martel will need to continue her success in goal.

T is for the Tar Heels — North Carolina had its worst ACC loss in program history against Syracuse a few weeks ago, and its schedule doesn’t get any easier from here. Hopefully this young UNC squad can learn from that loss and have the memory of a goldfish (thank you, Ted Lasso) as it moves forward.

U is for UMass Lowell — UMass Lowell has had a successful 2024 season, including a close loss against emerging Ivy League stud Brown. With freshman Chloe Bowers leading, this season (as well as the future) is bright.

V is for Virginia — Virginia’s freshman phenom Jenna Dinardo has impressed me all season. She plays without fear, goes hard to cage and has a knack for putting the ball away under immense pressure. Her confidence and competitive spirit are obvious, and it’s clear she will be a leader for the Hoos for years to come.

W is for Watch List — For now, the Tewaaraton Award Watch List is led by frontrunners and Northwestern’s dynamic duo, Izzy Scane and Erin Coykendall. This pair is lethal, with each having their own special skills, and I can see either one winning this prestigious award come May.

X is for X — Maryland’s Eloise Clevenger has made “X” her home this season, leading the Terps in assists and climbing the program’s record book in the category. Clevenger’s ability to feed off the dodge and thread the needle under pressure is matched by few.

Y is for Yale — Yale is having an awesome start, and one of its keys has been offensive balance. Seven players have 14 or more points, and with so many options on attack, it’s difficult for opposing defenses to hold strong. Yale has hit double digits in every game, which is one big sign of offensive success.

Z is for zebras — This year, the “zebras” — better known as the officials — have had a harder job than normal this season with the implementation of so many new and controversial rules. As the season has progressed, I feel like they’ve settled in, and calls have become more consistent across the board.