No. 9 Maryland field hockey dominates No. 5 Iowa, 4-1

Maryland garnered its first penalty corner of the game just over 90 seconds in.

The Terps used the opportunity to do what they’ve done for the past six straight games: score in the first quarter. Sammy Popper gave Maryland a lead it didn’t relinquish as it held firm over Iowa all game long. 

No. 9 Maryland field hockey (13-3, 5-1 Big Ten) used its trademark quick start to power itself to a statement win over No. 5 Iowa (12-3, 3-3 Big Ten) on Friday, 4-1.

“For me it was a pretty impressive performance from the girls,” assistant coach Scott Tupper said. “Perhaps our best of the season.”

Unlike in the past few outings where the Terps had only struck once in the opening frame, the Terps doubled their lead with just over five minutes left in the quarter. Hannah Boss forced the turnover and rifled a shot from the top of the circle to extend her side’s lead to 2-0. That score remained entering halftime.

Maryland’s offense went quiet from that point on, not recording another shot till Maci Bradford’s look early in the third quarter failed to connect. The Terps’ offense came to life near the end of the third frame, but Hope Rose’s shot on a penalty corner was narrowly deflected.

Maryland received yet another penalty corner attempt nearing the end of the third quarter; Rose had yet another shot saved. Rose’s look rebounded to Nathalie Fiechter, who put in a point blank shot from the left side into the back of the net for her first goal of the season to make it a 3-0 game.

The Terps didn’t step off the pedal in the final frame as Boss sent a rocket from the inside left of the shooting circle into the right corner for her second goal of the game to extend the lead to the final score of 4-1. 

“Everyone on the team just told each other we’re fine, let’s keep our heads up,” Boss said about her final goal. “We told each other to just keep going and we immediately got a big chance and a goal.”

Maryland’s defense dominated from the start. It forced turnover after turnover throughout the first half, limiting the Hawkeyes to just seven shots and only one shot on goal over the first 30 minutes.

Iowa’s best and only opportunity to get on the scoreboard in the first quarter came on a penalty corner attempt. Star freshman Dionne van Aalsum leveled a shot for the Hawkeyes, but fellow freshman Alyssa Klebasko made the diving save for her first of the game.

Klebasko put up a strong performance against Iowa, only allowing one goal while registering four saves in totality.

The Hawkeyes received their third penalty corner attempt of the game with less than a minute left in the second quarter, still looking for a goal. Sofie Stribos rifled a shot off the insert but Ericka Morris-Adams stepped up to block the shot and continue the defensive shutout. 

The Terps’ defensive front held strong while their offense endured a cold stretch, holding Iowa to zero shots on goal for two straight quarters.

The Hawkeyes finally scored less than a minute into the fourth frame. Annika Herbine struck on an assist by van Aalsum, sending a shot into the left corner to bring their deficit to 3-1.

But Iowa’s early offensive struggles proved to be fatal, as a dominant Maryland performance gave the Terps their sixth straight win.

“We were fantastic today,” Tupper said. “As long as we don’t get satisfied with ourselves and we continue to look at the little things we can improve on we’ll be in a really good spot.”