Liz Downing Staff

Liz Downing, a five-year member of the United States women?s lacrosse national team and three-year player on the elite squad, begins her fourth season as an assistant coach with the Notre Dame women?s lacrosse program. Her responsibilities at Notre Dame include coordinating all phases of recruiting and coaching the defensive unit.

Downing has been a part of the U.S. women?s lacrosse national team for the past five years. After spending two years on the development squad, Downing has played on the elite squad for the last three seasons. She was an alternate on the 1997 United States World Cup team and will represent the U.S. this summer against England.

The two-time All-American at the University of Maryland and the 1996 National Defensive Player of the Year was instrumental in leading the Terrapins to two straight national titles in ?95 and ?96 as Maryland became the first women?s lacrosse team in NCAA Division I history to win back-to-back championships. She also played on two consecutive, undefeated, untied seasons during her junior and senior seasons.

During Downing?s last three seasons, the Terrapins won 49 of 50 contests. Maryland finished the ?96 campaign with a 19-0 mark and established a new school mark for victories in a season. The previous year, the Terrapins completed the ?95 campaign with a 17-0 mark. The 36 consecutive wins set the mark for the longest winning streak in NCAA Division I women?s lacrosse history.

Downing, a first-team selection as a senior as one of six Maryland players to earn All-America honors in ?96, was a vital part of a Maryland defense that led the nation in scoring defense as the Terrapins gave up just 3.63 goals per game. No team scored more than seven goals on the Terp defense during her senior year as Maryland allowed two goals or less on six occasions. Downing and her teammates held six of the nation?s top offensive teams below their season-long scoring average at the time of their game against the Terrapins.

Downing had her best season in her final collegiate campaign as she scored 17 goals and dished off 12 assists (both career highs). She finished her career with 23 goals and 19 assists. Downing scored Maryland?s fifth goal in the national semifinal contest against Princeton, a game which the Terrapins won 6-5 after trailing 3-1 at halftime.

A native of Topsfield, Mass., Downing served as field hockey coach at the Sidwell Friends School in Washington, D.C., in the fall of ?96 after receiving her bachelor of arts degree in American studies in May of ?96.