No. 10 Maryland field hockey cruises past No. 16 Penn State 3-1

Photo by Dylan Davies/Maryland Terrapins. Photo courtesy of Maryland Athletics

Nearing the midway point of the fourth quarter, Maryland field hockey sought to create separation from Penn State.

The Terps did just that as Jordyn Hollamon delivered a surgical pass through a triage of Penn State defenders onto the stick a diving Feliz Kuhne, who redirected the pass into the net. The goal was Kuhne’s first collegiate goal and gave Maryland a commanding 3-0 lead. The score also marked the third point by a Hollamon. 

Backed by strong play from the Hollamon sisters, No. 10 Maryland (5-2, 1-0 Big Ten) cruised past No. 16 Penn State (4-2, 0-1 Big Ten) 3-1 on Friday at the Maryland Field Hockey and Lacrosse Complex.

“[I] get a lot of emotions from it just because I was talking to her today, I was like, ‘We grew up in the backyard playing together’,” defender Josie Hollamon said. “She is doing a great job on the forward line. 
She’s getting outcomes, she’s scoring goals. She’s getting the assist. That’s all we need.”

Similar to Maryland’s contest against Penn last week, the Terps started quickly. After a failed penalty corner from Penn State, the Terps looked to counter. Junior forward Maci Bradford executed a speedy drive downfield but placed the shot just wide of the left post. 

Despite a similar start, the Terps were a whole new team this game, creating a faster lead than in their previous contests.

“What really led to this change?” head coach Missy Meharg said. “We can train to a certain level and actually simulate what we’re gonna do, and that’s what we’re seeing.”

But 84 seconds later, Bradford was given a chance to redeem her missed opportunity via a penalty corner. Bradford inserted the ball to defender Fleur Knopert, who quickly dished a pass to fellow defender Josie Hollamon. The junior then ripped a shot past goalkeeper Aby Deverka, giving the Terps a 1-0 advantage with six seconds remaining in the opening quarter.

Josie Hollamon’s goal was the lone blemish against Deverka in the first half. The sophomore was at her best in the second quarter, stopping all three Maryland shots, with her best coming against Josie Hollamon in the dwindling minutes of the first half.

Josie Hollamon nearly doubled the Terps’ lead in the second quarter on another penalty corner, generating a point-blank shot that was denied by Deverka’s left leg with roughly two minutes remaining. 

Josie Hollamon’s sister, midfielder Jordyn Hollamon, scored with 8:04 left in the third quarter. The freshman also utilized a penalty corner as her shot deflected off a Penn State defender and past Deverka. The goal was Jordyn Hollamon’s fourth career score.

“To be able to score with her (Josie) on the field was really cool,” Jordyn Hollamon said.

Maryland’s offense continued to score in the following quarter as Kuhne’s diving effort gave the Terps a 3-0 advantage.

With a 6-1 shot discrepancy in the final quarter, Maryland continued its offensive domination throughout the game, utilizing every opportunity to shoot. The Terps finished with a 20-3 — their largest discrepancy since their season opener against Stanford.

The Nittany Lions’ only tally came with just over two minutes remaining in the game on a shot by senior midfielder Sophia Mannino.

The Terps have three straight since dropping both contests in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge and will look to continue that win streak against Michigan on Sept. 26.