No. 3 Maryland field hockey dismantles Michigan State, 7-2

Moments into the first quarter, defender Riley Donnelly found freshman midfielder Sophie Klautz open in front of the goal. 

Klautz tapped the ball in, giving Maryland the first score of the game in what was a three-goal first quarter as Maryland never let its foot off the brake.

No. 3 Maryland field hockey battled against Michigan State, looking to remain undefeated in conference play. The Terps did just that as they dismantled the Spartans, 7-2.

“The team was very disciplined and concentrated on being a passing team and put us in a position to have good easy goals,” coach Missy Meharg said.

The Terps opened the game with aggression, receiving a penalty corner attempt less than two minutes in, but their shot was deflected. 

Maryland made up for the missed opportunity moments later whenKlautz in front of the goal. Klautz tapped the ball into the goal off the post, scoring first with 13 minutes left in the quarter.

The scoring continued minutes later, when midfielder Emma DeBerdine drove down the field with the ball. DeBerdine found forward Hope Rose in front of the goal to the right, and Rose tapped the ball in to increase Maryland’s lead to 2-0. 

The Spartans received their first penalty corner attempt with 6:20 left in the quarter, but Maryland shut down the attempt, intercepting a pass. 

After the failed penalty corner attempt, midfielder Bibi Donraadt scampered down the field on a breakaway, diving and flicking the ball past Spartans goalkeeper Monique Jardell to give the Terps a 3-0 lead. 

The Terps ended the quarter outshooting the Spartans 8:2. 

The next scoring opportunity occurred with 13:28 left in the second quarter for the Terps on a penalty corner attempt. The Terps sprayed a flurry of shots at Jardell, but the 5th-year goalkeeper came up with four saves.

Maryland’s next attempt came with just under ten minutes left, but Rose’s shot was blocked by the Michigan State defense. 

The Terps were unable to continue their scoring streak in the second quarter despite registering eight more shots. Maryland’s defense held Michigan State to only one shot in the quarter. 

Jardell had eight saves at the half for the Spartans, facing 11 shots on goal. Maryland goalkeeper Paige Kieft had two saves at the half. 

DeBerdine opened up the scoring for the Terps in the second half. With under 12 minutes left in the third, Rose shifted through the Spartans defense towards the goal, finding an open DeBerdine on the right for the tap in score. 

The Spartans attempted the next penalty corner of the game with 10:57 left in the quarter, but the Terps’ defense stalled the attempt again. 

Maryland extended its lead to five later in the third when Donnelly fired a shot past Jardell, rocketing off the backboard. The goal was Donnelly’s first of the season. 

“It was definitely really exciting but for me it’s more important how the whole game goes,” Donnelly said. “Definitely exciting but I don’t try to harp on the numbers too much.”

The rest of the quarter was quiet for the Terps, attempting four more shots but converting on none. 

Maryland extended its lead just minutes into the fourth after Leah Crouse drilled a shot into the goal past Jardell. The goal was confirmed after a lengthy review by the officials, Crouse’s seventh of the season.

The scoring continued when Belle Bessler intercepted the ball from a Spartan. Bressler passed it to Rose, who fired one into the left corner for her second goal of the game, putting Maryland ahead 7-0. The goal was Rose’s 10th of the season.

“Our midfield has really good skills getting in and out of people’s defense and then getting enough,” Rose said. “It’s not necessarily always to me, but like it just happens to be sometimes we have great forwards.” 

Michigan State scored two late goals in the fourth by Isa van der Wiej, but it was too little too late as Maryland defeated Michigan State, 7-2. 

Maryland’s focus now pivots to a two-game Big Ten road trip against No. 5 Iowa and No. 1 Northwestern.