On an unusually hot October afternoon in College Park, No. 1 Maryland field hockey stayed calm, cool and collected against upset-minded Michigan State. After a slow start, the Terps turned up the dial en route to a 4-0 victory to kick off homecoming weekend.
The two teams, who entered the contest on opposite sides of the Big Ten table, played an even first quarter. Maryland attempted four shots in the first four minutes of the match but was silent afterwards, as Michigan State’s defenders swarmed
the ball once it reached the shooting circle. Offensively, the Spartans had issues breaking out of their own defensive third, trying just one shot in the opening quarter.
Michigan State’s defense continued to frustrate Maryland’s attack early in the second frame. At times, the Terps struggled to advance into the offensive zone, as the Spartans utilized an aggressive press that closed off passing lanes. The Terps were also hampered in the penalty corner department by the strong play of Spartans goalkeeper Lola Munoz de Verger. The Spaniard dropped to her side to handle an initial shot from Jordyn Hollamon before her fellow defenders came to the rescue.
However, the Terps cracked the deadlock with a pair of goals in quick succession. Maia Adamson and Kendall Gilmore combined to force a giveaway, and the latter quickly found Babs van Hest on the left wing. The 5-foot-3 junior might not look like a basketball player, but she showed her post skills by backing down her defender before firing a laser beam past Munoz de Verger to get the Terps on the board first with 9:24 to play in the period.
Not long after, the Terps tacked on another goal. Yet again, Adamson and Gilmore initiated the attack by creating a turnover, but this time, it was Maddie Vasilios on the receiving end. The senior cashed her third goal of the season to set a new career-high and double the Terps’ advantage with six minutes to play before halftime.
Turnovers stymied the Spartans during Friday’s beatdown. Both of Maryland’s first-half goals were results of preventable mistakes deep in Michigan State’s defensive zone, making things quite easy for Adamson, Gilmore and the rest of Maryland’s offense. It was a similar story on the other side of midfield, as inaccurate passes halted promising Spartan chances.
The silver lining for Michigan State was goalkeeper Munoz de Verger. The junior had one of her strongest performances yet in the green and white, as she racked up four saves to keep her squad in contention despite Maryland’s heavy pressure.
Despite the two-goal lead, the Terps kept their foot on the gas in the second half. In her first match back from a two-game absence, Aida Ierubino fought through a defender and pushed a shot to the bottom left corner of the goal to make it 3-0 midway through the third quarter.
In the fourth, Vasilios added another score to clinch her first career brace and wrap up a dominant offensive showing for the Terps – one that saw the Terps put up a whopping 27 shots to a mere three from the Spartans.
Three things to know
1. The Terps remain perfect. Maryland’s victory puts its record at 13-0, which is tied for its best start to a season since 2018.
2. Maryland has the Spartans’ number. Maryland remains unbeaten all-time against Michigan State, notching its 19th win in as many tries.
3. Friday shotfest. The Terps accumulated 27 shots on Friday, their fourth time reaching the 20-shot plateau this season.
