After a successful 2-0 weekend at home, No. 4 Maryland field hockey is headed to Durham, North Carolina, to compete in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge. In their first ranked games of the season, the Terps will take on No. 8 Boston College on Friday before taking on No. 5. Duke on Sunday.
Both games begin at 3 p.m. and will stream on ESPN+.
No. 8 Boston College Eagles (2-0, 0-0 Atlantic Coast Conference)
2024 Record: 14-7, 6-2 Atlantic Coast Conference
Boston College is running on strong momentum from last season after winning 14 of 21 games last season, five of which were
shutouts. Head coach Kelly Doton guided the team to the ACC Tournament championship game and the Eagles were ranked No. 3 in the conference. However, they did not take home any hardware last season.
Players to watch
Madelieve Drion, junior forward, No. 16 — Last season, Drion appeared in every game for the Eagles and tied for the second-most goals on the team. The forward maintained a shots-on-goal percentage of 69.6%, and was named to the National Field Hockey Coaches Association D1 Northeast Region second team. Drion scored one of two goals for the Eagles on Aug. 29 against Maine.
Madeline Leigh, junior defender, No. 6 — Leigh only appeared in 13 of 21 games last season but is on the rise. The defender captained the New Zealand team, as it hosted the U18 National Championship, and eventually secured a bronze medal. Leigh played in every minute of last weekend’s slate for the Eagles, scoring the game-winning goal and recording an assist against Indiana.
Strength
Shot accuracy. The Eagles currently sit at a 73.9% shots-on-goal percentage. They finished 2024 with an average of 57.4%, not far below the Terps’ average of 64% last season.
Weakness
Defensive depth. Boston College only has four true defenders listed on their roster and one cross-listed as a midfielder. Without additional specialists in the area, the core starters will likely play lots of minutes, possibly losing steam as the game goes on.
No. 5 Duke Blue Devils (1-1, 0-0 Atlantic Coast Conference)
2024 Record: 13-7, 6-2 Atlantic Coast Conference
Sunday’s face off against Duke may be Maryland’s most important game before conference play begins. Led by head coach Pam Bustin, the Blue Devils knocked the Terps out of the NCAA Tournament last season in the second round after beating them during the regular season. On Friday, the Blue Devils lost their first game of the season to Liberty, but a 2-1 win over American Sunday restored some momentum.
Players to watch
Alaina McVeigh, senior forward, No. 14 — McVeigh has gathered a host of honors in her four years as a Blue Devil. Last season, the forward was named a second team NFHCA All-American and All-ACC first teamer in addition to leading Duke in goals. Last weekend, she scored one goal in Duke’s win against American University.
Julia Boehringer, junior midfielder, No. 18 — Boehringer is coming off of a strong rookie campaign in which she played every game, scored one goal and notched an assist. The junior spent her summer with the German U21 National Team.
Strength
Variety. The Blue Devils have a pretty even roster — between four and six players are listed at each position. With a plethora of options, Duke can integrate a large portion of its roster during the game, giving different players looks and not allowing Maryland to get comfortable with a specific lineup.
Weakness
Goal scoring depth. Last season, McVeigh shouldered the weight of scoring goals for the Blue Devils, logging 13 of the team’s 36 goals. This could create an opportunity for the Terps’ defense to lock down Duke’s main scorer, although that will be easier said than done.
Three things to know
1. Olympic-level talent teachers. Duke head coach Bustin was an Olympian in 1996, while Boston College head coach Doton played in the 2008 Beijing Olympics alongside four former Terps. The coaches have brought elite experience to their decade-plus tenures at their respective programs.
2. Old matchup, new chapter. The Blue Devils and the Terrapins have faced off 17 times across the last 14 years while under their current leadership. Duke has won the last three matchups and nine of the 17, with the Terps able to tie the Bustin-era record Sunday.
3. Rankings are up for grabs. This weekend brings Maryland its first ranked matchups of 2025, with both opponents in the more prestigious top 10. How the Terps perform this weekend could have a significant impact on next week’s ranking poll and the season outlook heading forward.
