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.

The best season of the year is almost upon us — lacrosse season! — and I couldn’t be more excited for all that the next few months have in store for us.

This offseason has been a rollercoaster ride at the Division I level, which only increases the eager anticipation for February.

Memorial Day Weekend concluded with Boston College on top of the women’s lacrosse world, holding both the national championship and Tewaaraton Award trophies. After four straight national championship game appearances, the Eagles finally won it all and ended their successful spring with another Tewaaraton winner in Charlotte North.

While BC returns much of its talented 2021 roster, there have been many changes in the makeup of other teams within the conference and Division I as a whole that could pose serious threats to the Eagles’ hopes of a repeat. Since Memorial Day, we’ve seen many players transfer to different programs, new coaches hired to top-tier schools, tenured and beloved veteran coaches announce retirement, upperclassmen decide to take their one more year of eligibility to fight for a final chance at a national championship, and so much more.

The talent pool for this year is one of the best we’ve seen in recent memory, and with so many changes to team rosters and staffs, there are a few unknowns for fans to be on the lookout for as the season goes on.

Some offseason changes that could make a huge difference come May include:

1. Maryland and North Carolina winning the transfer portal game this summer.

Both Maryland and North Carolina return many players from their 2021 seasons that bring both talent and experience, but they also gained a few very important transfers this summer that could give them the edge they need. Midfielders Andie Aldave (Notre Dame) and Olivia Dirks (Penn State) both bring NCAA and U.S. national training team experience to the already strong UNC midfield unit. They will bring even more firepower to a team that also returns Tewaaraton finalists Taylor Moreno and Jamie Ortega.

Maryland added lockdown defenders Abby Bosco (Penn) and Clancy Rheude (Albany) in addition to midfielder Shannon Smith (UNC) and attacker Aurora Cordingley (Johns Hopkins). Bringing in four veteran players, all of whom have immeasurable talent, experience, and leadership capabilities, could be the answer the Terps need to make it back to the Final Four come May.

2. Kayla Treanor hired as the newest Syracuse head coach.

Syracuse had another spectacular year in 2021, falling just short of victory in the national championship game. With former head coach Gary Gait taking the men’s job at Syracuse, it was obvious to so many of us that the next women’s coach needed to be Kayla Treanor.

With her success as a former Orange player and current U.S. national team veteran, combined with her experience as an assistant coach at BC (where she coached the team to four championship game appearances and a victory), Treanor made it quite clear that she should be next in line and earned the job this summer.

Her Orange squad returns stars Emily Hawryschuk and Megan Carney from ACL injuries, the House of Tyrrell duo in attackers Emma and Meghan Tyrrell and a talented defense on top of it all. Not to mention a midfield headlined by Sam Swart and Sierra Cockerille.

With so many gifted players and Kayla’s ingenious lacrosse mind, it will be intriguing to see what’s added to the quiver for the Orange. Regardless, Syracuse will be a hard one to defeat this spring.

3. Tucker and Sailer to retire after the 2022 season.

Johns Hopkins’ Janine Tucker and Princeton’s Chris Sailer are two of the most successful coaches in the history of women’s lacrosse. They are beloved by their current players and alums, respected by other coaches within the women’s lacrosse community and have helped push our game farther with each season.

Tucker has been with the Blue Jays for almost three decades now and has been a five-time Regional Coach of the Year during her tenure. Sailer has been with the Tigers for 34 seasons, winning three national championships and becoming the first lacrosse coach, male or female, to reach 400 wins with the same Division I program.

It will be interesting to see how both of their teams respond this season knowing that this is their coach’s last ride. I’m sure we will be seeing more fire and passion than ever before in the Tigers and Blue Jays as they fight to send their coaches out on top.

4. Experience galore at Duke.

The Blue Devils return 16 players with at least four years of college lacrosse experience this season, which is a scary realization. A talented freshmen class and sophomore returner Katie DeSimone look to compliment seasoned players Maddie Jenner, Sophia LeRose, Katie Cronin, Anna Callahan and Catriona Barry as they fight to get back to the Final Four in May.

With so much experience, maturity, and confidence in their key players that stems from a successful 2021 season, Duke will be a tough game for every opponent they face.

TAYLOR’S (PRESEASON) TOP 10

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