For the first time this week, the weather is looking great and just in time for women’s lacrosse battle between the No. 2 Terrapins and No. 7 Towson at the Field Hockey & Lacrosse Complex tonight at 7 p.m.

I focused in my preview on the Terps’ transition from the turf field at the complex to the grass field at Ludwig Field. Tonight’s game is the last played at the complex before it goes through field renovations. But the other big news from the team this week is freshman midfielder Katie Schwarzmann.

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This could get ugly …

Michael Katz is a senior staff writer and Internet expert for The Diamondback. He can be reached at mkibrickkatz@gmail.com. Do it.

As a freshman last season, Terrapin shortstop Alfredo Rodriguez readily admits that he was trying to do everything all at once, resulting in a frustrating first season, especially at the plate.

 This season, Rodriguez has simplified his attitude and approach to hitting, and he has become the team’s Mr. Everything and its most exciting offensive player.

At the beginning of last season, former coach Terry Rupp was excited about his team chances to make its first ACC Tournament since the league expanded in 2005.

Part of the reason he was so optimistic was because of the talented crop of incoming freshmen expected to contribute immediately, particularly Rodriguez, who was pencilled in as the starting shortstop from the very first practice.

It became clear by the first weekend of the season that Rodriguez was already above-average defensively. He exhibited good range and a very strong throwing arm that allowed him to make throws across his body and from deep in the hole.

The offensive struggles started immediately, but they were also expected.

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The No.2 Terrapin women’s lacrosse team barely beat No. 20 James Madison in Harrisonburg, Va. Saturday afternoon, winning 8-7.

For the majority of the game, the Dukes held a two- or three-goal lead against the Terps. It wasn’t until midfielder Katie Schwarzmann scored a goal with less than six minutes remaining that the Terps held the lead. The goal proved to be the difference against a pesky and confident James Madison squad.

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It was almost a foregone conclusion after his record-setting senior season, but Terrapin 197-pound star Hudson Taylor was named the ACC Wrestler of the Year in a vote amongst the league’s coaches on Friday. Taylor also won the award as a sophomore in 2008.

The choice was really a no-brainer for the league’s six coaches, Taylor was a four-time ACC Wrestler of the Week this season and was named the Most Outstanding Wrestler at the conference tournament earlier in March.

Although his hopes for a national championship were dashed and he admittedly underestimated Cornell’s Cam Simaz, causing him to finish fourth at the NCAA Championships, Taylor still had a fantastic season by all statistical measures.

He finished as the nation’s co-leader in wins with 42 to only four losses, won his second individual ACC title, and became the Terps’ first three-time All-American in school history.

Throughout the season Taylor always spoke of his personal obsession with pins, he was constantly aware of how many pins he had and how many he needed to break school records.

His fascination paid off as he led the nation with 24, which is also the Terps’ record for most pins in a single season. He also broke the school record for most pins in a career and finished with 83 wins coming via fall.

He also leaves the program as the school’s all-time winningest wrestler with a career record of 165-28.

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The Terrapin football team practiced in full pads this morning for the first time this spring, and coach Ralph Friedgen said “It was OK.”

Friedgen said he is still concerned with inconsistency on the offensive line, and that situation was not helped when starting right guard Bennett Fulper left practice because his surgically repaired shoulder “wasn’t feeling right.”

It sounds like Fulper is unofficially listed as day-to-day, and Friedgen said they are going to be cautious with him. Friedgen said he doesn’t think there is anything seriously wrong with Fulper and that the sophomore may just be lacking confidence in his shoulder after his surgery.

Friedgen also confirmed that fullback Taylor Watson does have a torn ACL, and the average recovery time for that injury is about six months.

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