By Barrett Neale

Coach: Cathy Reese, sixth season
Conference: Atlantic Coast
2011 record: 21-2, 5-0

Following a third consecutive Final Four berth, Maryland opens the 2012 season ranked second in the Inside Lacrosse preseason poll. The roster includes four preseason first-team All-Americans -- senior attacker Karri Ellen Johnson, senior goalkeeper Brittany Dipper, and junior midfielders Katie Schwarzmann and Iliana Sanza.

Schwarzmann led the team in goals last year (65). Johnson had an injury-shortened 2011 season (concussion), but still tallied 51 points during 11 games, giving her 182 for her career, fourth-best in program history.

Dipper started every game last season, ranking among the top 10 Division I goalies in save percentage (52.2) and goals-against average (6.54). She and Sanza, who caused a team-best 23 turnovers, were key contributors on the nation's top-ranked scoring defense (6.78 goals allowed per game).

2012 Schedule
Jan. 28 at USA
Jan. 29 at England
Feb. 12 vs. William & Mary
Feb. 16 vs. Delaware
Feb. 19 at Penn State
Feb. 25 at Duke
March 2 vs. Virginia
March 4 at Hofstra
March 10 vs. Syracuse
March 13 vs. Richmond
March 17 vs. Boston College
March 20 vs. Stony Brook
March 24 at James Madison
March 27 vs. Towson
March 30 at Penn
April 7 at North Carolina
April 11 at Princeton
April 14 vs. Virginia Tech

Issue 170: February 2012