No. 11 Maryland field hockey looks for highest-ranked win of the season against No. 3 Virginia

No. 11 Maryland (9-6, 5-3 Big Ten) will go up against No. 3 Virginia (12-1, 6-1 ACC) on Tuesday in Charlottesville, Virginia. 

The Terps earned a solid Big Ten victory against No. 17 Rutgers with a stout defensive stand and a game-winning goal in overtime to break the 0-0 tie. That win was the Terps’ first overtime victory this season.

Junior goalkeeper Alyssa Klebasko recorded her fifth shutout of the season, and freshman midfielder Maia Adamson scored her first career goal.

The Cavaliers most recently played at Louisville on Oct. 24 and won 2-0, its third consecutive shutout victory. Virginia outscored its opponents 8-0 over that stretch, and its only loss this season came against No. 3 North Carolina.

Virginia’s offense is led by defender Mia Abello, the Cavaliers’ leader in goals (five) and points (12). Even with those numbers, Abello has been on a cold streak lately. The junior hasn’t recorded a point since the Cavaliers’ contest against California in September.

Graduate midfielder Suze Leemans has three goals, tied for second-most on the team, and three assists, tying for first among the Cavaliers.

Leemans also had the lone goal for Virginia in its last matchup against Maryland in 2024. She had her third assist of the season in the Cavaliers’ recent matchup with Louisville, assisting sophomore midfielder Amelie Rees.

The most formidable threat for Maryland, however, will be goalkeeper Nilou Lempers. The junior currently ranks first in the NCAA this season in save percentage (0.878) and goals against average (0.494). Through 12 games, she’s allowed only six goals.

Maryland will need to maximize its scoring opportunities to stand a chance against a stalwart presence in goal like Lempers.

The last highly ranked goalie Maryland went up against was Juliana Boon from Northwestern, who ranks second in save percentage and goals against average. The Terps were able to get a ball past her, but Boon saved Maryland’s four other shots on goal. 

If the Maryland players can channel the same offensive energy seen in the Northwestern game, and avoid a disastrous quarter, they can perform as well, if not better, against the No. 3 team in the NFHCA.