No. 3 Maryland field hockey scores five-straight goals, defeats New Hampshire, 6-1

Moments into the fourth quarter, Maryland attempted their 11th penalty corner of the game. Midfielder Emma DeBerdine sent the ball into midfielder Nathalie Fiechter, who set the shot up for midfielder Danielle Van Rootselaar. 

Van Rootselaar rocketed it into the left corner of the net, growing Maryland’s lead even further.

After recording only one goal in the first half, Maryland blew the game open in the second, scoring five consecutive goals en route to a 6-1 victory for the Terps. 

“We played against their backfield completely differently,” head coach Missy Meharg said. “Instead of putting pressure on the center back with the ball, we just started passing. We just came and put pressure from the outsides and sidelines.”

No. 3 Maryland field hockey battled against New Hampshire in a Sunday afternoon contest.

The first penalty occurred just two minutes into the game. Midfielder Bibi Donraadt set the shot up for forward Hope Rose, who rocketed the ball into the goal past Wildcats goalkeeper Jemma Woods to give the Terps an early 1-0 lead. The goal was Rose’s fifth of the season. 

With under four minutes left in the first quarter, freshman Tamera Cookman drove the ball up the field for New Hampshire, slicing through Terps defenders. Cookman flicked the ball into the right corner of the net, tying the game for the Wildcats.

Maryland began the second quarter aggressive, firing three shots in the first two minutes that were all saved by Woods.

The Terps attempted a pair of penalty corners at the 1:32 and 3:36 marks of the quarter, but both shots were saved by Woods. 

Maryland received another scoring opportunity moments later. Midfielder Kylee Niswonger received a pass right in front of the goal for an open shot, but Niswonger was unable to handle the pass, losing the ball in the process.

Maryland continued to attack, peppering multiple shots at the goal, but none made it past Woods. Woods was up to eight saves with seven minutes to go in the second quarter. 

Woods came up with her 10th save of the half with a little more than two minutes remaining. 

Maryland attempted another penalty corner, but Dani van Rootselaar’s shot was saved by Woods. Van Rootselaar got the ball back and took another shot that was blocked by the defense.

In a scoreless second quarter, the Terps took 11 shots compared to the Wildcats’ one. The Terps also attempted three penalty corners but converted on none. 

At the half, the Terps led in shots 13:2, 11 on goal. Maryland goalkeeper Paige Kieft came up with one save in the half. 

Sunday was Kieft’s first career start.

“It was just so exciting,” Kieft said. “I love playing with these girls in practice. So being able to bring it onto the field just felt full circle.”

Maryland received its first penalty corner of the third roughly two minutes in, but Van Rootselear’s shot was blocked by the defense. In the Terps’ next attempt moments later, Rose’s shot missed wide of the goal. 

With about ten minutes left in the third, midfielder Leah Crouse received the ball in front of the goal after Maryland set its offense up. Crouse tapped the ball into the opposite direction of a stretched Woods, hitting the right corner of the net to give Maryland a 2-1 lead. It was Crouse’s 5th goal of the season.

With under five minutes to go in the third, midfielder Belle Bressler intercepted the ball from a Wildcats defender. Bressler then took the ball and shot it into the left corner of the goal, increasing the Maryland lead to two. It was Bressler’s first goal of the season. 

“I’m really excited to get my first goal this season but it’s really about the team and the brand of hockey we’re playing,” Bressler said.

The Terps increased their lead to three off a penalty corner early in the fourth. DeBerdine sent the ball into Nathalie Fiechter, who set the shot up for van Rootselaar. Van Rootselaar fired the shot to the left corner of the net, beating Woods as Maryland increased its lead to 4-1. 

The Terps increased their lead to four after a DeBerdine goal. DeBerdine received a pass from Donraadt and struck it past Woods for her second goal of the season. 

Rose recorded her second goal of the game moments later, increasing the lead to the final score of 6-1. 

After recording 10 saves in the first half, Woods recorded only two in the second half. 

The next challenge for Terps is on Friday, when they will travel to Columbus, Ohio to face the Ohio State Buckeyes.