When No. 2 Maryland hosts No. 7 Michigan on Saturday it will juxtapose tradition and success in one of the Big Ten’s premier games of the season.
On one side, Maryland (13-0, 3-0 Big Ten) is led by Cathy Reese who became the program’s all-time leader in wins Wednesday night at Virginia. She’s 261-21 overall, has four national titles and led her team to the national semifinals 10 times.
Her counterpart is Hannah Nielsen, who in less than two years’ time has turned Michigan (13-0, 3-0 Big Ten) from perennial afterthought into a title contender. Nielsen is 20-10 in Ann Arbor having already twice reset the program record for season wins.
Saturday evening will be the fifth meeting between the two programs who have never been closer. For the first time in the series, Michigan is expected to compete. And for the first time, the players believe it.
“I think even last year, and in years in past, we would go into the game assuming the worst, that Maryland is better and assuming the loss,” Nielsen admitted. “Even last year, we played well, but [the players] never thought were going to win. This year is different. We trust our ability and have confidence. We’re not nervous and not scared and we expect to go into College Park and give them a good run.”
Reese has taken notice of Michigan’s rapid ascension under Nielsen’s leadership and reminisced of her playing days.
NO. 7 MICHIGAN AT NO. 2 MARYLAND
WHEN: Saturday, April 6, 5 p.m.
WATCH: Big Ten Network
“Huge credit to her and what she’s done over the last couple years,” Reese said. “She’s getting the job done. I remember trying to recruit her as a player, and it’s cool to see her have that success, and now in the Big Ten to have another great Big Ten program be undefeated in the nation.”
Michigan’s rise has led to reevaluation as a program because all the goals have already been achieved. No longer are the goals merely to have a winning record and grab a berth in the Big Ten tournament, the Wolverines are all but certain to crash the NCAA tournament for the first time come May. All that comes back to the mentality of winning instilled earlier in the season, especially in tight games against Dartmouth, Denver and Towson.
“We’re definitely playing better,” Nielsen said. “Every game we play, nothing is ever perfect. Some of those close calls, we could have won by a few more, but since then [the players] have buckled down and learned to play to win rather than play to not lose.”
The Terrapins are rolling along as they tend to do in April. Michigan represents their seventh top-10 foe of the season and the team’s fifth in a 28-day stretch, which is exhausting by anyone’s count. Keeping the energy on the Terrapins’ own ability is Reese’s objective.
“It’s not about Michigan-Maryland being undefeated,” said Reese. “It’s about being better than we were the week before and really focus for Maryland to be the best team that we can be.”
That team has a stable of seniors who have gone an astounding 78-3. The 10 seniors will be celebrated on the back half of a doubleheader with the men’s game vs. Michigan, which heightens the excitement for this top-10 clash.
“I love them, this group of seniors, they’re just awesome people,” Reese added. “They have each brought a different personality to this program and so much more to this team. This senior class is sitting on three losses, to have only three losses and just be midway through their senior year you forget to celebrate those accomplishments. They’ve have so much success and are loving life, but there’s so much lacrosse left to play.”