JJ Suriano is an American collegiate lacrosse goalkeeper who earned national recognition for her performances with the University of Maryland women’s lacrosse team. In May 2026, she was named the IWLCA Division I Goalkeeper of the Year after completing a season in which she recorded 227 saves across 22 games.
Originally from Baltimore, Maryland, Suriano developed her skills at Bryn Mawr School before joining the Maryland Terrapins. Her progress from a freshman who did not appear in a game to an award-winning goalkeeper included important conference performances, All-American recognition, and invitations to U.S. women’s national-team training camps.
Her career also offers an insight into the demands of collegiate goalkeeping, particularly through her own accounts of learning from experienced players, developing confidence, and working with her defensive teammates.
Quick Facts
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Sporting name | JJ Suriano |
| First name | Julia |
| Hometown | Baltimore, Maryland, USA |
| Profession | Collegiate lacrosse goalkeeper |
| University | University of Maryland |
| Previous school | Bryn Mawr School |
| Academic major | Public Health Science |
| Major achievement | 2026 IWLCA Division I Goalkeeper of the Year |
Who Is JJ Suriano, Maryland’s Award-Winning Lacrosse Goalkeeper?
JJ Suriano, whose first name is Julia, plays goalkeeper for the Maryland Terrapins women’s lacrosse programme. She wears jersey number 30 and is listed as a senior on Maryland’s 2026–27 roster.
Her nickname dates back to her childhood lacrosse experience. In a feature published by Maryland Athletics on 7 May 2026, Suriano explained that she had played on a youth team with another goalkeeper named Julia. To distinguish between them, one became known as J and the other as JJ. The nickname remained with her as she progressed through the sport.
Suriano attended Bryn Mawr School in Baltimore before beginning her collegiate career at Maryland. Alongside her athletic commitments, she studies Public Health Science.
In 2026, her achievements in Maryland’s goal brought her major honours from the Big Ten Conference and the IWLCA. The Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) selected her as its Division I Goalkeeper of the Year, recognising her individual contribution in one of college lacrosse’s specialist positions.
How Suriano Developed from Bryn Mawr to Maryland
Suriano’s introduction to goalkeeping was not something she initially welcomed. According to her May 2026 interview with Maryland Athletics, she first tried the position in elementary school despite preferring to play in attack and score goals.
However, the experience changed her interests. She discovered that she enjoyed stopping shots, while her parents recognised her tendency to move naturally towards the ball. By the following year, she had started taking the position more seriously.
Her development continued at Bryn Mawr School, where she spent four years playing varsity lacrosse. According to Maryland’s official athletic biography, she finished her high-school career with 423 saves and an 8.24 goals-against average.
Her school-level achievements included IAAM A-Conference All-Conference selections in 2021, 2022, and 2023. She also earned All-Metro Second Team recognition in 2022 and 2023.
Outside school competition, she played for Skywalkers Lacrosse Club from 2014 through 2022. That experience formed another part of her development before she entered college lacrosse.
When choosing a university, Suriano considered more than the opportunity to compete. She told Maryland Athletics that the university’s established lacrosse programme, academic opportunities, and location close to her family influenced her decision.
Maryland also provided examples of successful goalkeepers she could learn from.
One was former Maryland standout Megan Taylor, whom Suriano admired for achieving success despite being relatively short for the position. Taylor’s accomplishments offered a relevant example because both players were listed at 5 feet 3 inches.
During her first year at Maryland, Suriano had the opportunity to observe Emily Sterling, whose experience in goal became a valuable part of her development. Suriano credited Sterling with helping her understand the mental demands of the position, particularly the importance of staying composed and communicating effectively.
She also described maintaining occasional contact with Sterling after their time together at Maryland.
These experiences preceded Suriano’s eventual move into the starting goalkeeper position.
JJ Suriano’s Breakthrough Performances in 2025
Suriano’s collegiate career began without immediate playing opportunities. She did not appear in a game during the 2024 season, which Maryland subsequently described as her redshirt freshman year.
Her first collegiate start arrived on 15 February 2025, when Maryland faced Syracuse. She recorded four saves in the season-opening contest.
Just three days later, on 18 February, Suriano earned her first college victory as Maryland defeated Georgetown 9–7. She made 11 saves in that game, an early indication of her growing role within the team.
Her performances developed as the season continued.
Against James Madison on 8 March 2025, she recorded 13 saves. Another important outing came on 27 April against Northwestern in the Big Ten Tournament, when she stopped 18 shots.
That Northwestern performance formed part of a season in which she received broader recognition for her goalkeeping.
Suriano was selected for the 2025 All-Big Ten Tournament Team and received an honorable mention in Inside Lacrosse’s All-American selections.
Those achievements marked her emergence as a recognised collegiate goalkeeper and provided valuable competitive experience ahead of her award-winning 2026 season.
Why JJ Suriano Won the 2026 National Goalkeeper of the Year Award
Suriano reached a new milestone in 2026 as her performances earned recognition at the highest level of Division I collegiate goalkeeping.
She started all 22 games for Maryland, finishing with 227 saves, 31 ground balls, and an 18–4 goalkeeper record. Her save percentage reached 51.0%, with an average of 10.32 saves per game.
According to the IWLCA’s announcement in May 2026, her save total led Division I women’s lacrosse that season.
| 2026 performance metric | Result |
|---|---|
| Games started | 22 |
| Saves | 227 |
| Saves per game | 10.32 |
| Save percentage | 51.0% |
| Ground balls | 31 |
| Goalkeeper record | 18–4 |
Her 227 saves also established Maryland’s single-season record for the period since the university joined the Big Ten Conference.
Her performances also contributed to multiple conference and national individual honours.
On 26 May 2026, the IWLCA officially named Suriano its Division I Goalkeeper of the Year.
The award followed her selection as Big Ten Goaltender of the Year and recognition on the All-Big Ten First Team.
She also earned First-Team All-American honours from the IWLCA, Inside Lacrosse and USA Lacrosse, alongside IWLCA Mid-Atlantic All-Region recognition.
Suriano was additionally named among the Tewaaraton Award Top 25, placing her among the collegiate players recognised during the selection process for one of lacrosse’s major individual awards.
Her IWLCA honour specifically recognised her as the nation’s leading Division I goalkeeper under that association’s awards programme. The overall Division I Player of the Year award was a separate distinction, awarded to Chloe Humphrey.
For Suriano, the national goalkeeping honour marked the culmination of a season defined by consistent appearances, a high save total and recognition from several major organisations associated with the sport.
What Suriano Has Said About Goalkeeping and Team Leadership
Suriano has spoken openly about how she approaches a position that demands quick reactions, communication and the ability to respond immediately after conceding a goal.
In Maryland Athletics’ May 2026 feature, she explained that she does not allow her height to determine her confidence as a goalkeeper.
Listed at 5 feet 3 inches, she focuses on anticipation, experience and trusting the defenders playing in front of her.
Her description of her playing style also emphasised making full use of her body when attempting saves. Rather than relying on physical size alone, she discussed approaching shots actively and using what she has learned through years of competition.
The mental side of goalkeeping has been another important part of her development.
Her experience observing Emily Sterling during her first college season helped her appreciate how an established goalkeeper manages pressure and provides direction to teammates.
Suriano has also expressed a collaborative view of leadership. She told Maryland Athletics that valuable guidance can come from players at different stages of their college careers, rather than exclusively from seniors or established starters.
This approach is closely connected to her understanding of the goalkeeper’s relationship with the rest of the defence.
Suriano has credited her coaches and teammates across the field for helping her succeed, rather than viewing her goalkeeping achievements as individual efforts.
That perspective also appeared in her reaction to winning Big Ten Goaltender of the Year.
Suriano recalled learning about the award while taking an academic examination. She described her excitement at receiving the recognition but also credited the teammates and coaches who supported her throughout the season.
Her comments provide a first-hand account of the preparation, shared responsibilities, and competitive approach behind her performances.
JJ Suriano’s 2026 U.S. Lacrosse Training Camp Selections
Suriano’s achievements with Maryland were followed by opportunities within the U.S. women’s national-team training programme.
On 13 August 2026, USA Lacrosse announced that Suriano was among 22 athletes invited to a Women’s Sixes National Team training camp held in Sparks, Maryland, from 17 to 21 August.
Fellow goalkeeper Jenika Cuocco was also invited to the same August 2026 U.S. Women’s Sixes training camp.
Sixes is a version of lacrosse played with smaller teams than the traditional collegiate field format. Her place among the invited goalkeepers gave Suriano a chance to train with the U.S. sixes squad while representing Maryland at the collegiate level.
Her involvement continued the following month.
Suriano received another call-up from USA Lacrosse in September 2026, joining the goalkeepers invited to Buffalo for a three-day training camp beginning on 26 September.
The September roster also featured goalkeepers Shea Dolce and Taylor Moreno.
These selections represented national-team training opportunities following her successful Maryland season. They did not announce her inclusion in a final international championship squad.
Maryland’s 2026–27 roster continued to list Suriano as a senior goalkeeper following her national award and U.S. women’s sixes training-camp selections.