TAYLOR CUMMINGS IS A THREE-TIME TEWAARATON WINNER, A MEMBER OF TEAM USA AND THE HEAD COACH AT MCDONOGH (MD.) HIGH SCHOOL. "TAYLOR'S TAKES" IS PRESENTED BY GAIT LACROSSE. BE LEGENDARY.

Wow, what another week of awesome collegiate women’s lacrosse. We saw more close games and shakeups in the Big Ten conference, a few top-10 matchups in the ACC and many outstanding individual and team performances around all of Division I.

What I’m loving most about this season is the uncertainty of victory with each game. We’re seeing so many close competitions and upset wins, which makes life as a viewer so much more exciting!

On the other hand, something that isn’t so thrilling to witness as a viewer is the clear disparity in production levels between the men’s and women’s games on the Big Ten Network’s streaming platform BTN Plus. The men’s games this weekend had multiple camera angles, two announcers and an exceptionally high quality in their streams. On the other hand, I was in total shock when I turned on the Ohio State-Johns Hopkins game Friday night to find a stream that looked like practice film and to listen to … nothing.

The lack of announcers and simple scoreboards for the women’s contests are unacceptable for any conference, especially one as large as the Big Ten. We are seeing games being called virtually by the ACC and other smaller conferences with higher quality streaming services at a fraction of the price.

Here’s to hoping that the Big Ten Network steps up in a BIG way and gives its female teams the respect they deserve and have earned. Enough is enough.

On to happier news … Let’s take a look at this week’s top teams and impressive players.

Taylor’s Top Players

Sydney Watson, UConn

Watson is an outstanding player who was particularly impressive in the Huskies’ midweek matchup with Albany and their weekend contest against UMass. She is a hard top-dodger with an explosive first step who brings electricity to the field.

Watson’s passion for playing is so obvious, and you can tell that she enjoys every second on the field with her teammates. On top of that, I love watching her compete because she is a player who likes to have the ball in her stick in big moments — and she can handle the pressure that comes along with that with ease. Watson stepped up in a huge way with four goals in UConn’s win over Albany and in an even bigger way with six goals and the game-winner in OT against a ranked UMass team. I expect her to continue lighting up the box score and leading all season long.

Livy Rosenzweig, Loyola

Rosenzweig is Loyola’s quarterback. She’s incredibly crafty, can feed or score on a whim and makes everything look so easy and smooth. She was huge for the Greyhounds in their midweek victory over Villanova with six goals and three assists and continued her dominance against American on Saturday.

On top of all she does for Loyola behind the cage, Livy is also an integral part of the draw team and can set the tone at the center circle. Her ability to place the ball on the circle to her teammates or to herself with a specific follow through shows her versatility as a center.

Molly Garrett, Michigan

I’ve had the privilege of playing with Molly Garrett with Team USA, and to say she is a workhorse is an understatement. Garrett does all the things that don’t often end up in the box score — riding hard, getting on hands on defense, dominating between the 30s and cutting to create openings for her teammates.

But in Michigan’s big wins over Rutgers in this weekend’s doubleheader, Garrett showed up in the box score in a vital way. She had four goals, including the game-winner Friday night, while also contributing multiple ground balls, draw controls and caused turnovers. She is a “do-it-all” type of player and a leader that the Wolverines will continue to rely upon this spring.

Molly Garrett through traffic @UMichWLAX wins it.

Michigan tops @rutgers_wlax 12-11 in overtime. pic.twitter.com/XuUm0LFseU

— US Lacrosse Magazine (@USLacrosseMag) March 5, 2021

Annika Meyer, Johns Hopkins

Meyer is someone that does the little things on defense extremely well. She creates and maintains contact on her attackers, crashes into the middle as soon as an inside feed is made by an opponent and makes smart decisions in the clearing game.

In the Blue Jays’ two wins over Ohio State this weekend, Meyer made her presence known with four ground balls, five caused turnovers and suffocating one-on-one defense. She is a versatile defender in both man-to-man and zone schemes and seems to lead by example across the board. In the gauntlet that is the Big Ten, Meyer will need to continue to step up in order for Hopkins to keep on its winning ways.

Kerrigan Miller, North Carolina

Having played against Kerrigan at our last few Team USA weekends, I know firsthand what a force she can be on the field. She’s steady on the defensive end, tenacious on the draw circle and a quick dodger who can attack from anywhere at any time.

In North Carolina’s key conference win over BC on Saturday, Miller stepped up early when teammates Katie Hoeg and Jamie Ortega were being shut off. As you watch her throughout the season, take note of how she uses quick changes of direction to get around defenders and then keeps her stick within her shoulders to protect it from getting checked. Her early goals were integral to UNC’s success in the first half and helped create a momentum that the Heels would ride out until the end.

Taylor’s Top Ten Teams

1. UNC (6-0)
2. Syracuse (3-0)
3. Northwestern (3-0)
4. Notre Dame (2-0)
5. Florida (3-1)
6. Penn State (2-0)
7. Maryland (2-1)
8. Stony Brook (4-2)
9. Virginia (4-0)
10. Boston College (3-1)