No. 9 Maryland field hockey shuts out Michigan State, 3-0

No. 9 Maryland field hockey’s offense was in need of a boost. Its Friday match against Michigan State had turned into a 1-0 defensive stalemate with three and a half minutes left in the third quarter.

Maya Everett got a shot for the Terps, which rebounded off of Cecily Charles right onto the stick of Hope Rose.

Rose put a point blank slow rolling shot toward the right corner of the net. The ball went past a diving Charles and into the back of the goal, making it a 2-0 game and giving Maryland (9-3, 2-1 Big Ten) the cushion it needed to pull off an eventual 3-0 win over Michigan State (3-8, 1-4).

“It’s a great outcome,” coach Missy Meharg said. “Michigan State has a lot of great athletes and they’re going to be dangerous.”

The Terps attempted to get on the scoreboard early with their first penalty corner of the game just two minutes in. Rose’s shot was saved by Charles for her second in as many minutes.

Charles gave it her all for the Spartans, registering a total of 10 saves on the day.

Maryland failed to get another penalty corner until two minutes into the third quarter, with freshman defender Josie Hollamon missing on two attempts.

But the Terps refused to give up their offensive attack. This paid off three and a half minutes later, as fifth year forward Margot Lawn fired the ball for the middle of the shooting circle to give Maryland the 1-0 lead.

“I could see out of my peripheral that the defender was coming,” Lawn said. “It was just [an] old school softball swing and that’s what I put on frame.”

Lawn’s goal marked the third straight game the Terps scored during the first quarter, continuing their recent pattern of hot starts.

Their defensive effort was just as strong, as the Spartans’ attack failed to put up a single shot until just under 17 minutes in. Freshman goalie Alyssa Klebasko stopped the attempt for her first save of the game.

Michigan State’s offense became more aggressive in the second quarter, resulting in all seven of its first half shots. Senior midfielder Lulu Fulton had a chance to score on their first penalty corner, but her shot was blocked.

Fulton also managed to get a shot on goal, but Klebasko was able to make the save for her second of the game.

After a near-15 minute break over a Maryland challenge for a penalty corner, sophomore midfielder Hannah Boss had two golden chances to score. But the Michigan State defense blocked the first attempt and her second attempt went wide.

With 53 seconds left in the half, the Spartans had an attempt to tie the game on a penalty corner. But the shot by fifth year midfielder Celina Riccardo was saved by Klebasko.

Everett made a gallant charge on a breakaway to score, but was stopped by a diving Charles, resulting in the Terps’ third penalty corner of the game seven and a half minutes into the third.

Rose’s third-quarter goal made it a 2-0 game with Hollamon picking up the assist.

With just over a minute to go in the third frame, Lawn shot a rebound from a penalty corner, but senior forward Kim Smit made a stick save to keep it a two-goal game.

Maryland didn’t take long to follow up its second goal, as four minutes into the fourth period Lawn launched a rocket from the left side of the net, giving the Terps a 3-0 advantage.

The goal was Lawn’s second of the game, bringing her season total to six.

“I’m just super thankful my teammates gave me the opportunity to score,” Lawn said.

Maryland outshot the Spartans 25-to-10 while managing to put up 14 shots on goal in a dominant offensive showing.

The Terps down to Washington, D.C. to play American on Sunday at 3 p.m.