Preview: No. 6 Maryland field hockey wraps up road trip against Michigan State

Photo courtesy of Samantha Osborne/Maryland Terrapins

No. 6 Maryland (7-3, 3-1 Big Ten) field hockey will conclude its three-game road trip on Friday when it travels to East Lansing to play Michigan State.

The Terps started their road trip in Indiana. Maryland had been prone to slow starts for most of the year, but against the Hoosiers, the Terps’ offense immediately produced. First-quarter goals from Hope Rose and Josie Hollamon gave Maryland a 2-0 lead. 

Indiana played close games against top-ranked teams such as Northwestern, prior to this game, but Rose’s second goal — this one from just inside the shooting circle — gave the Terps a commanding 3-0 lead, allowing them to defeat Indiana with ease.

The Terps then took a six-hour bus ride to then-No.10 Iowa for its fifth top-10 matchup of the season. 

The game’s first goal defined Iowa’s season, as the Hawkeyes were winless in games where they didn’t score the first and undefeated in games where they scored the first goal. That pattern held true as another fast start by Maryland led to a penalty corner goal by Ella Gaitan less than two minutes into the second quarter. The Terps then dominated after halftime, scoring a pair of goals in each of the final two quarters and cruising to a 5-0 victory.

“The team is very responsive to break information, whether it be the quarter or certainly at halftime,” coach Missy Meharg said on the performance against Iowa on Wednesday. “We changed … [the] shape out of the back end and the pressure on the front, and I think that the response to that from the players and the understanding is really encouraging for the coaching staff.”

All season, Maryland has dominated in the second half. Of the Terps’ 24 goals this season, 17 have come in the third and fourth quarters.

“I think for [the players], we get into our locker room before the coaches, so we’re able to debrief and share our thoughts with the team first,” Hollamon said about Maryland’s second-half success. “I think that has really helped, and we’re all able and willing to speak up and share what we think is going on. And if things aren’t going right, we’re able to figure it out … so that we can execute in the third and fourth quarters.”

Despite the two convincing road wins, the Terps fell one spot in the NFCHA Division I poll, leaving them ranked sixth heading into the matchup against Michigan State (6-5, 0-2 Big Ten).

Maryland enters Friday’s contest with a defensive advantage. The Spartans surrender the second-most goals against the Big Ten and sport a 1.90 goals-against-average — third-worst in the Big Ten. 

Despite playing five more ranked opponents than Michigan State, the Terps boast a 0.68 goals-against-average. The play of Maryland’s team defense has been the biggest contributor to the low average, as the Terps have allowed the fewest shots on goal in the Big Ten. 

The combination of Maryland’s smothering midfield speed, excellent marking and communication from defensive players like Ericka Morris-Adams, Rayne Wright and Hollamon has made it hard for teams to sustain offensive pressure. The Terps’ defensive prowess was on full display in their previous matchup when they limited the Hawkeyes to just three shots through 60 minutes.

Maryland’s defense will be tested against a Michigan State offense that loves to shoot. The Spartans have the fourth most shots on goal in the Big Ten but the second-lowest shooting percentage, suggesting they might be a volume-shooting team.

Meharg said on Wednesday that she’s not concerned about Michigan State’s shot-on-goal total and that Maryland will be fine if it continues to focus on its structure and midfield defense.