College Notebook: St. Mary's grad develops into stopper for Maryland | Maryland Gazette (HometownGlenBurnie.com)

Buote proved that this month when she came up big in a pair of crucial victories over ranked opponents. The Annapolis resident was simply spectacular at times in making a season-high 10 saves in an 8-5 upset of Virginia, which was ranked second at the time.

"What makes Allie special is that she has the ability to be very dynamic," Maryland assistant coach Jen Adams said. "Against Virginia, Allie made some monumental, game-changing saves. She took away some goals and that was huge in a close game."

In the process, Buote outplayed Virginia keeper Kendall McBrearty - Most Valuable Player of the 2007 ACC Tournament. She anchored a tremendous defensive effort as the Terrapins held the Cavaliers nine goals below their season average and to their lowest total since 2000.

A few days later, Buote stopped seven shots in a 16-10 victory over then No. 16 James Madison. She was named ACC Player of the Week in recognition of the superb back-to-back performances.

"Allie has been doing a great job of seeing the ball. She has been very sharp and on top of her game," said Adams, who is filling in for head coach Cathy Reese, who gave birth this week.

"We've talked to Allie about the importance of consistency, of showing up for all games and not just the big ones. So far this season she has been extremely consistent, both stopping the ball and directing the defense. She has really developed into a tremendous leader back there."

Buote has started 26 straight games for Maryland and compiled 377 career saves. She boasts a career save percentage of .469 and has been credited with 34 victories.

"Allie is a very athletic keeper. She makes plays in and out of the cage," Adams said. "We have a lot of faith in Allie with the ball in her stick. She makes great decisions and outstanding passes in the clearing game. She jump-starts our transition with her outlet passes."

Buote has superb support in front of her with Anne Arundel County products Katie Pumphrey and Alexcia Niumatalolo part of a defense that is allowing just 9.17 goals per game.

Pumphrey, a senior from Severna Park High, serves as defensive captain for the Terps and is known for her communication skills, take-away ability and clearing ability.

"Katie is our only senior defender so she provides a lot of leadership. She is often overlooked, but has been the anchor back there for last couple seasons," Adams said. "Katie is hard to get past because she is so fast and tough. We trust her to run the ball out of the back because she can handle the ball under pressure."

Pumphrey started 19 of 20 games last season and ranked fourth on the team with 34 ground balls and 21 caused turnovers. She has 10 ground balls, five caused turnovers and five draw controls this season.

Maryland coaches are high on the potential of Niumatalolo, a two-time All-County selection out of Broadneck High. "Alexcia is an exceptional athlete with a good knack for the game. She reads plays real well," Adams said.

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Jen May was a signature recruit for the University of Oregon back in 2004. Landing a highly-rated prospect from one of the lacrosse hotbeds on the East Coast was somewhat of a coup for a fledgling program directed by head coach Jen Larsen.

May has more than lived up to her billing, piling up 154 points and counting during her four-year career. The South River High product may be the only three-time captain in Division I women's lacrosse.

"Jen has been a great foundation for this program, both as a player and a person," Larsen said. "She is a true competitor who goes full speed in every practice and works hard to improve her game. She is an absolute dream in terms of what you look for in a leader."

May has led Oregon in draw controls four straight years and has compiled 178 for her career. She has also accumulated 140 ground balls and 126 caused turnovers.

"Jen is incredibly relentless and tenacious. Whenever there is a 50-50 ball, I'll put my money on Jen coming up with it," Larsen said.

May was chosen team Most Valuable Player as a freshman, sophomore and junior - a remarkable accomplishment. She became the first Oregon player to be named a preseason All-American by Inside Lacrosse.

May, the all-time leading scorer in the brief four-year history of Oregon lacrosse, was named Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Player of the Week on Feb. 25 after leading the Ducks to a pair of upset victories on the East Coast. The Davidsonville resident scored two goals and assisted another while also gobbling up five ground balls to key an upset of then 18th-ranked Richmond. She had two goals and an assist in a thrilling one-goal win over Virginia Tech.

"Jen has always been a clutch player. She has that ability to score a goal when the team really needs one," Larsen said.

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Meg Dennehy became the latest Anne Arundel County product to serve as head coach of a collegiate women's lacrosse program when she was hired at Queens University of Charlotte, N.C. The Gambrills native and Arundel High product has led the Division II program to a 5-1 record, including 3-1 in Conference Carolinas.

Dennehy has significant experience in the league, having been a standout player at Limestone and an assistant at Belmont-Abbey.

It seems as though every head coach in Conference Carolinas comes from Anne Arundel as Julian Domenech (Severn) directs Pfeiffer and Lyndsey Boswell (Southern) leads St. Andrews Presbyterian. Alicia Groveston (Southern) is the assistant at Belmont-Abbey while Lindsay Jackson (Southern) is the assistant at St. Andrews.

Other collegiate head coaches from the county are Davidson's Betsy Given Economou (Broadneck), Penn State's Suzanne Weinberg Isidor (Severn), Towson's Missy Holmes Doherty (St. Mary's) and Greensboro's Charlotte Dixon (Southern).

An extensive list of assistants includes Denver's Rachel Shuck (Broadneck), George Mason's Elizabeth Schaffner (St. Mary's) and Meg Dentler (Arundel), Loyola's Kristen Hagert (St. Mary's), Navy's Kelly Coppedge (St. Mary's), Northwestern's Acacia Walker (Annapolis), Oregon's Brooke Dieringer (St. Mary's), Princeton's Amy Altig (Spalding), Salisbury's Lizzy Bayly (Spalding), St. Mary's College's Melissa Puzak (Broadneck) and Villa Julie's Melanie Ruppert (Severna Park).

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bwagner@capitalgazette.com