Third quarter surge aids No. 10 Maryland field hockey in 3-1 win vs Penn

Photo by Austin DeSisto/Maryland Terrapins. Photo courtesy of Maryland Athletics.

With time winding down in the third quarter, a defensive standoff seemed imminent. 

Both No. 10 Maryland field hockey and Penn had struggled to consistently generate offensive opportunities. But with 3:30 remaining in the quarter, Maryland bucked that trend.

The Terps scored twice before the period’s conclusion, aiding Maryland in a 3-1 victory over Penn in the Terrapin Invitational at the Maryland Field Hockey and Lacrosse Complex on Friday.

“I think coming into practice, we were really like locked in,” Bradford said. “It’s not like us to lose two games in a row, so I think this week at practice was very strong, very high energy, [and] really, really good hockey.”

Unlike Maryland’s (3-2) games last weekend, the Terps started quickly, scoring just 84 seconds into the contest on a penalty corner shot by junior forward Maci Bradford. But the Quakers’ (1-2) defense quickly settled as Penn head coach and former Maryland associate head coach Scott Tupper stifled the Terps for the remainder of the half.

“[I] knew that the University of Pennsylvania would be far more organized, far more technical, and far more deliberate about what they were doing,” head coach Missy Meharg said on Tupper. “It’s an honor to have coaches come through this program and do so well and be so competitive to lead their own program.”

Maryland became hasty with several passes going out of bounds or past the intended player. Penn’s stout defense helped its offense settle into the game, as the Quakers drew and scored on a penalty corner of their own just minutes after Maryland’s first-quarter goal. Penn’s goal came from junior forward Honor Roberts.

The goal jump-started the Quakers’ offense, controlling the pace of play and generating seven shots on goal. But the Quarkers were consistently thwarted by goalkeeper Alyssa Klebasko.

The junior had been an integral part of Maryland’s defense heading into Friday’s contest, and this game was no different. Klebasko was stellar, notching all six of her saves in the first half. Klebasko’s best sequence came in the final minute of the second quarter as Klebasko turned aside multiple in-tight shots from the Quakers.

The third quarter was much of the same until the Terps’ midfield generated a chance in transition. Meharg has previously preached the importance of speed through the midfield, and midfielder Maia Adamson showcased that tactic. The freshman stick-handled through a pair of defenders before dishing a pass to Bradford on her left, who buried her second goal of the afternoon. 

Nearly two minutes later, the Terps’ offense struck again, this time on a goal by junior forward and midfielder Maddie Vasilios. The assist came from sophomore midfielder Callie Rogers — marking her first collegiate point.

The second half also saw a resurgence for Maryland’s defense. The Terps not only thwarted any Quaker penalty corners but also prevented Penn from generating a single shot. 

The Terps’ stout defensive play was highlighted in the fourth quarter. With less than five minutes remaining, the Terps were down a player because of a green card, and the Quakers pulled their goalkeeper in an attempt to close the gap. The combination gave Penn an 11-to-9 player advantage.

But Maryland kept Penn on the perimeter, and upon gaining possession, it used quick and short passes to keep the ball away from Penn and run out the game clock.

The Teps will now have a chance to sweep the Terrapin Invitational when they play No. 13 Saint Joseph’s on Sunday.