WESTMINSTER, Md. – The Hood College women's lacrosse team picked up their first win of the 2026 campaign in a 13-12 win over the Green Terror of McDaniel College on Wednesday afternoon.
Inside the Box Score
Maggie Merrill (Marriottsville, Md./Marriotts Ridge) scored four goals and caused three turnovers in the game.
Rachel Harper (Ellicott City, Md./Marriotts Ridge) added four goals, while Geneva DiRe (Lebanon Township, N.J./Voorhees) netted three in the contest.
Tayton Barrett (Georgia, Vt./Rice Memorial) made 12 saves and earned her first collegiate win in goal for the Blazers.
Julia Gregory (Sussex, N.J./Vernon Twp.) won seven draw controls.
How it Happened
The defensive prowess of both squads were on full display as the first goal was not scored just over six minutes into the contest, as McDaniel drew first blood to give them a 1-0 advantage over Hood.
Shortly after the Green Terror's first goal, they would net another one to go up 2-0.
Hood quickly responded and stop the bleeding with a goal by
Geneva DiRe (Lebanon Township, N.J./Voorhees).
McDaniel got back their two goal led from another Kat Thayer goal, but
Maggie Merrill (Marriottsville, Md./Marriotts Ridge) fired a shot that found the back of the net to stay in contention with the Green Terror and make the score 3-2 in favor of McDaniel.
After a slow offensive start for both teams, the Blazers and Green Terror found their footing and ended the first quarter with a close 4 to 3 game with McDaniel in the lead after 15 minutes of regulation.
McDaniel netted two more goals to give them a three goal lead midway through the second quarter, and despite the deficit the Blazers continued to stay aggressive offensively behind a
Rachel Harper (Ellicott City, Md./Marriotts Ridge) goal.
Just before the end of the first half, Merrill would net her third goal of the game, and headed into the half the Green Terror held a slight 6 to 5 lead, but Hood held the momentum into the break.
Early into the third quarter, Julia Gregory (Sussex, N.J./Vernon Twp.) quickly tied it up with a goal to make it six a piece for both teams.
The Blazers and Green Terror traded goals, as both teams caught fire offensively throughout the third quarter.
Headed into the fourth, McDaniel led 10 to 9, as the game looked to be headed down to the wire.
A Rachel Harper (Ellicott City, Md./Marriotts Ridge) goal early into the fourth would tie the game at 10-10, and a few minutes later Harper would net yet another goal to give Hood a 11 to 10 lead.
McDaniel responded with a goal of their own, but Hood would net two more goals midway through the fourth as they looked to finish the Green Terror off and earn their first win of the season.
Now up 13 to 11, Hood was closing the door on McDaniel, but a late goal by Kat Thayer kept their hopes alive.
As second remained in the contest, McDaniel earned a free position shot opportunity.
The Green Terror's last chance to send the game to overtime was stopped, as
Tayton Barrett (Georgia, Vt./Rice Memorial) would make the save of the game to give Hood their first win of the season, and Barrett's first collegiate win of her career.
For the Opponent
Kat Thayer netted six goals and won five draw controls.
Emily Conklin added three goals.
Analysis
Hood was outshot by McDaniel 36-25.
Hood edged McDaniel in saves 12 to 5.
The Blazers and Green Terror were tied for draw controls 13-13.
Notes
Hood improves to 1-2 overall.
McDaniel falls to 1-3 overall.
Up Next
The Hood College women's lacrosse team will have a short break, as their next game will be home on March 7 at 1 PM against the Monarchs of King's College (Pa.) at Thomas Athletic Field.
