PressBox recently chatted with Maryland women’s lacrosse junior Kori Edmondson about learning from Taylor Cummings, playing three sports in high school and more. The 5-foot-8 midfielder scored 38 goals and picked up 11 ground balls en route to second-team All-Big Ten honors in 2024. Edmondson is a native of Severn, Md., and graduate of McDonogh School.
PressBox: How did you first become interested in lacrosse?
Kori Edmondson: I first became interested in lacrosse from being on the sidelines with my sister, [Logan]. My sister is six years older than me. I grew up around it. My dad played lacrosse. Watching all of them as I was younger, always being on the sidelines, I’ve kind of just been picking it up since I was little. I always had a stick in my hands. I was just a little girl playing on the sidelines while watching my dad and my sister play.
PB: Who was the biggest influence on your game growing up?
KE: The biggest influence on my game growing up was definitely Taylor Cummings. I feel like I gravitated toward her for awhile, watching her be a great player at Maryland. It was super inspiring, just loved the way she wanted to play. That’s who I wanted to be.
PB: You were coached by Cummings for four years at McDonogh. What still sticks with you?
KE: She would tell me this all through high school — just always competing day in and day out. Nothing’s ever guaranteed, so you treat every day like a new day and you build on to that. Never take anything for granted and always be ready.
PB: What are your favorite memories from your time at McDonogh?
KE: My favorite memories at McDonogh were definitely winning the IAAM championship my freshman year [and] creating so many friendships that lasted a lifetime. I can still say to this day after we play each other in our college games, we’re all so close and just being able to have friends after high school has been so cool.
PB: How did playing three sports at McDonogh help you in lacrosse?
KE: It gave me, honestly, an outlet. I think a lot of kids nowadays are so super focused on one sport, but for me I really like to put myself out there. Being able to have a break from lacrosse was also super nice, but honestly, running track and playing field hockey, it all has a little bit of correlation. They were definitely on the opposite end of the spectrum compared to lacrosse, but I think just being able to take a little bit from each sport and being able to [use it] it in lacrosse was what translated it.
PB: Why did you choose to go to Maryland?
KE: I chose to go to Maryland because it’s close to my home. I’m a family person, so having my family come to all of my games is super important for me. And also the coaching staff and the culture at Maryland has, you can’t get that anywhere else. It’s such a special place that not a lot of people can talk about. Once you go there, it’s such a special thing.
PB: Why do you think you were able to contribute right away as a freshman?
KE: I think I was able to contribute as a freshman because my upperclassmen and my coaches had that trust in me. I don’t think I would have had the success that I did without my teammates. Being able to put myself in a position like that is scary as a freshman. When I was a freshman, there were a lot of fifth-years and sixth-years that I was playing with. So just having the trust of my teammates and my coaches was my biggest thing.
PB: Was there a coach who helped you developed your finishing ability?
KE: I think all the coaches that I’ve been able to have — like Taylor Cummings, my dad, Cathy [Reese], Alex Aust, Caitlyn Phipps — have all shaped me to help finish goals. I think they all bring a different unique aspect to it. I think being able to take what you want from each coach and applying it to your game is super special. Being able to hear from so many people has helped me become a good finisher.
PB: What’s your favorite thing about College Park?
KE: My favorite thing about College Park is honestly my friends. The university is very tight-knit and it’s in one place. To be able to just have everything in the same vicinity is super awesome.
PB: Who’s your best friend on the team and what’s a story that underscores your friendship?
KE: My best friend on the team is Olivia Rockstroh. We played club together since we were in fourth grade at M&D. She’s my roommate. Just the best way to describe our friendship is we’re always laughing and we’re always having a good time together.
PB: Who was a player you looked up to when you first got to Maryland?
KE: The one I looked up to was Abby Bosco. She is a great player and you can see so much written about her, but I feel like one thing you don’t hear as much is how awesome of a leader she was. What I have taken from her is trying to follow her leadership, the way she’s super positive and is always bringing everyone up with her was something super inspiring to me.
PB: What advice do you have for younger players going through the recruiting process?
KE: Have an open mind. Don’t ever close any doors. You might think one day you want to go somewhere else, but then the next day you really listen to a coach and you like the way they treat you and the way they talk to you. You just need to follow your heart. At the end of the day, wherever your heart tells you to go is where I think you should go.
PB: What are your goals for after lacrosse?
KE: My goals after lacrosse are to work in the government. I’m a criminology major, so [I want to] become an agent in one of the agencies in the FBI/Secret Service is my goal.
PB: Why that path?
KE: I grew up in a government family … and it’s something that I’ve gravitated toward. I like the work ethic that you have to have. It’s solving little puzzles. That is so interesting to me. … It’s something that’s always kind of stuck with me.
Photo Credit: Courtesy of Maryland Athletics