No. 4 Maryland field hockey cruises past Yale, 3-1

After three consecutive penalty corner attempts from Yale, No. 4 Maryland field hockey finally had an answer with a penalty corner of its own at the six-minute mark of the second quarter.

Already up one, the response from the Terps was deafening. Josie Hollamon put the ball in the back of the net to give Maryland a two-goal lead.

The Terps led the rest of the way.

Maryland (6-1) cruised past Yale (1-3), 3-1, to cap off an undefeated weekend in the Terrapin Invitational.

Despite the countless weather issues that had plagued the weekend, Maryland came out of the gates unfazed as Margot Lawn got the Terps on the board within the first seven minutes of the game. 

It was a point blank diving score for Lawn as her second goal of the season gave Maryland an early 1-0 lead.

The Terps’ defense was just as strong as they were Friday against Miami (OH) in the first quarter, as Yale failed to register a single shot against freshman goalkeeper Alyssa Klebasko, who was making her second career start in the cage.

The Bulldogs refused to fold after Maryland’s early score, as Yale goalkeeper Luanna Summers closed out the first quarter by saving a Hope Rose shot to keep their deficit at one through one quarter of play.

Yale went on the attack in the second quarter, getting the first two penalty corners of the contest back-to-back, but the Bulldogs were still unable to record a single shot. They received another penalty corner just over four minutes later, but their attempt was blocked by Maura Verleg.

Maryland finally got its first penalty corner of the game shortly after, and the Terps wasted no time capitalizing as Hollamon got her second goal of the season to give Maryland the 2-0 lead. Lawn and Nathalie Fiechter were credited with assists.

Klebasko recorded her first save of the game on the other end of the field in a diving effort on a Yale penalty corner with just under three minutes to go in the first half. 

The Bulldogs’ offense came to life in the second quarter, firing six shots, although only one was on goal.

The Terps managed eight shots in the first half, with four being on goal. Maryland’s aggressive offense helped fuel it to a 2-0 lead entering halftime.

Missy Meharg’s offense continued to come out with fire in the second half, but Summers made save after save as she weathered a penalty corner and two shots on goal within the first four minutes of the half.

Summers led the valiant effort of the Bulldogs defense, as she made eight saves on the day.

The Terps’ offense continued their aggression throughout the third quarter but weren’t able to increase their lead, despite a point blank opportunity by freshman Maddie Vasilios.

Maryland’s defense also proved itself to not be unfailable as in the closing seconds of the third quarter, Yale cut the Terps’ lead in half as sophomore Poppy Beales connected on a rebound of a penalty corner to make it a 2-1 game three periods in.

But the Terps’ offense responded. They refused to be stopped in their assault, and less than four minutes into the fourth quarter, Rose recorded her ninth goal of the season on a penalty corner insert from Lawn to extend her club’s lead to 3-1.

Lawn had herself a stellar afternoon, adding one goal and two assists to bring her season total to nine points.

Klebasko stepped up for the Terps in the fourth quarter after she allowed the first goal of her Maryland career just a quarter prior. She kept the Bulldogs off the scoreboard in the frame, and registered three saves overall as the Maryland defense continued to support her efforts.

Maryland will search for four-straight wins when it faces Princeton on Thursday.