Taylor Cummings is a three-time Tewaaraton winner, a member of Team USA, the inaugural Athletes Unlimited Lacrosse champion and the head coach at McDonogh (Md.). “Taylor’s Takes” is presented by Gait Lacrosse. Be legendary.

After a nine-month hiatus, I was finally able to get back to my newfound hobby this past weekend — calling college lacrosse games.

I’ve played lacrosse for over 20 years, watch it all the time in the spring and don’t mind public speaking, so I figured, “Why not give announcing a try?” The women’s game is in such desperate need of knowledgeable and passionate analysts anyway, and if I could get my lacrosse fix and maybe entice viewers to watch and play more, it was worth the risk of potentially embarrassing myself on nationally streamed television.

Last season, I was lucky enough to find myself in the booth for a few local Loyola games and absolutely loved the experience. Watching such high-level lacrosse live and being able to share the strategies that players and coaches were implementing was not only fun but continued to help me be a better student of the game. I’m able to see things happen live (good or bad), explain why the play resulted in a goal or turnover, and then apply everything I’ve learned to my own play and to my McDonogh team’s play.

Given that, I was as eager as ever to get back in the booth, but this time at the good old Field Hockey and Lacrosse Complex in College Park, Md. Being back at a place that has shaped so much of who I am today, but doing so in a completely different role, brought out all of my emotions.

I was excited to be back. I had nerves for the broadcast itself because I wanted to give viewers and the teams the insight they deserve. I felt nostalgic, remembering all the good times I experienced on that very same field. I was even a little bit jealous, wanting so badly to be back in a Terp uniform competing alongside my best friends. More so than ever, I was filled with so much pride as I watched two excellent teams (one of which will always have my heart) competing and playing a game that every person in those stands loves.

In short, I loved playing college lacrosse and miss it every day. At the very same time, I also love my new role calling the games and helping the game grow in any way possible. I am confident that our sport is in excellent hands with the college players of today, and luckily for us, we are privy to their talents week in and week out.

Here’s who and what stood out from Week 3 of the Division I women’s lacrosse season.

Boston College’s speed.

When our USA team competed against Boston College at the USA Lacrosse Fall Classic, the one thing that stood out to me most was how fast the entire team was. From defenders to attackers to the midfield unit, each part of the Eagles’ squad was lightning quick.

It doesn’t look like anything has changed now that their season is underway. In fact, they look even faster. BC’s defenders and midfielders consistently pushed the fast break in their ACC matchup against Virginia this week and wore UVA down by the end. They had more 5-v-4 and 6-v-4 fast breaks than I’d ever seen before because of their wicked quick clears and speedy midfielders breaking up field.

Their fast ball movement and unselfishness in those quick player-up opportunities resulted in goals time and time again. If any team is going to knock off the Eagles, it’ll have to figure out how to slow up their clears and fast breaks. Otherwise, it will be a long day on the field.

Richmond and Brittney Wright.

Richmond was able to stun then-No. 16 Stanford last Friday afternoon with methodical offense, suffocating rides and lockdown defense. Attackers and midfielders kept their composure and heads up as they moved the ball quickly around Stanford’s man-to-man and zone defenses to find open seams.

Despite their success on the offensive end, it was defender Brittney Wright who really stood out to me for the Spiders. She had the difficult task of marking up stud Stanford attacker Ashley Humphrey and did a fantastic job limiting her to two assists. Wright does a fabulous job utilizing both her stick and feet to dictate attackers to go in the direction she wants and is a vacuum as soon as the ball hits the turf. She secured two ground balls (while helping teammates secure even more) and caused three turnovers in the victory.

Coastal Carolina’s balanced scoring.

Coastal Carolina was able to secure a huge overtime victory over Elon thanks to balanced scoring across the board. Eleven total players recorded at least a point with Lauren Cremen leading the way with four goals and two assists. By having so many weapons, the Chanticleers were able to expose Elon’s defense and make the most out of every opportunity.

It’s every coach’s dream and goal to have an offense that has seven weapons, and Coastal Carolina has that and then some.

UMBC’s Dymin Gerow.

In the Retrievers’ first four games, Dymin Gerow has tallied 14 goals and five assists and has earned the American East Offensive Player of the Week honor multiple times. A stat that stands out to me so early in the season is not just her goal total, but specifically her free position percentage. She is 9-for-11 off the 8-meter line, an almost 82-percent success rate in a statistical category where the goal is 50 percent or better. That consistency and confidence when she steps up to the line is something all players should aspire to have.

TAYLOR'S TOP 10

*Current as of Monday, February 28

1. Boston College
2. North Carolina
3. Maryland
4. Syracuse
5. Northwestern
6. Stony Brook
7. Princeton
8. Loyola
9. Duke
10. Michigan