Three weeks after falling from the upper echelon of the National Field Hockey Coaches Association poll, No. 10 Maryland reclaimed their top-ten ranking, bouncing back after two weeks at No. 11.
With tournament
season inching closer, each game the Terps play becomes more important – including games against Indiana and Northwestern this weekend. A win against the Hoosiers would potentially propel Maryland to the top of the Big Ten leaderboard, effectively punching their ticket to the conference tournament. Beating the Wildcats would significantly improve the Terps’ NFHCA ranking, which could alter the path they face to get to the NCAA Final.
Maryland will host Indiana on Friday at 4 p.m. and Northwestern on Sunday at 1 p.m. Both games will stream on Big Ten Plus.
Indiana Hoosiers (5-7, 0-3 Big Ten)
2024 Record: 9-9, 4-4 Big Ten
Indiana finished fourth in the conference last season, but fell to Michigan in the first round of the Big Ten tournament before missing the NCAA tournament. This season, with Indiana alumnus head coach Kayla Bashore continuing to lead the way, the Hoosiers have logged five victories, including a 5-1 win over Northeast Conference title contender Saint Francis.
The Hoosiers are looking to earn their first Big Ten victory of the season in College Park on Friday.
Players to watch
Mijntje Hagen, sophomore forward, No. 16 – Hagen is tied for sixth in total points in the Big Ten. The sophomore currently leads the Hoosiers in goals and is tied for first on the team in assists. Three of her five goals on the year came during Indiana’s win against UC Davis on Oct. 3.
Inés Garcia Prado, junior midfielder, No. 34 – Garcia Prado has been an anchor for Indiana’s midline since her freshman year, where she started in every game and took 26 shots. Currently in her junior year, the midfielder ranks fourth in the Big Ten in assists. Garcia Prado assisted Hagen in her game winning shot against UC Davis.
Strength
Shots on goal. The Hoosiers take nine shots on goal per game on average, completing 60% of them to the net. In comparison, the Terps only take about seven shots-on-goal. Maryland’s defensive line, led by captains Ericka Morris-Adams and Josie Hollamon, will have their work cut out of them keeping Indiana out of the shooting circle altogether.
Weakness
Roster youth. Almost a third of Indiana’s players graduated or transferred away from the program at the end of last season. In their place, Bashore recruited nine freshmen to join the Hoosiers and fill out their roster. The freshmen had never played any collegiate field hockey, much less at the Big Ten level. Lack of experience among a large portion of the team could give Indiana a disadvantage when playing Maryland.
No. 1 Northwestern Wildcats (11-1, Big Ten 3-0)
2024 Record: 23-1, 8-0 Big Ten
Northwestern is the reigning NCAA DI Field Hockey National Champions after holding Saint Joseph’ scoreless in the finale of last season. Even after a national win, the Wildcats are already on the hunt for their third program national title. With head coach Tracey Fuchs at the helm, Northwestern has held onto their No. 1 spot in the NFCHA poll for seven weeks.
However, on Monday, Northwestern lost their first game of the season, falling to No. 6 Princeton by just one goal. Now, the Wildcats will look to restart their hot streak, starting with the Terps.
Players to watch
Juliana Boon, redshirt freshman goalkeeper, No. 77 – So far this season, the redshirt freshman has the highest save percentage in the Big Ten conference at 87%. Boon has been a boon to the Northwestern defense, only allowing six goals to fly past her while blocking the other 57 shots that came her way. The goalkeeper tied her season record of five saves in a game in Northwestern’s last game against No. 6 Princeton.
Ashley Sessa, junior forward, No. 4 – Sessa set the standard for Northwestern field hockey in 2024, where she scored 24 goals, 19 assists, and ultimately the game-winning goal that sent the Wildcats to the national championship. Since then, the junior has continued her tradition of excellence. Sessa is currently tied for third in assists per game in the NCAA, and fourth in goals scored in the Big Ten.
Strength
Double-sided effort. Northwestern’s offense has scored forty total goals in just twelve games, while its defense has limited their opponents to only six goals total. This puts pressure on the Terps on both sides of the field. Maryland’s leading scorers, Jordyn Hollamon and Ella Gaitan, will be tasked with evading Wildcat defenders to gain access to the net, while Alyssa Klebasko needs to watch Northwestern’s forwards.
Weakness
The schedule. The Wildcats only played five ranked teams this season so far, whereas the Terps have already played seven of the 20 ranked teams. Additionally, Northwestern only faced off against three other Big Ten teams, all of which rank in the bottom half of the Big Ten. As Maryland has faced six conference opponents, it might have an advantage in preparing for the big games
Three things to know
1. Hoosiers held back. The Terps have beaten the Hoosiers in every game they’ve ever played against each other. In its 11-game win streak, Maryland has posted five shutouts.
2. Familiar foes. Maryland and Northwestern faced each other 24 times over the past 23 years. The Terps ultimately hold the all-time series record, 13-11, but they haven’t been victorious over the Wildcats since November of 2022.
3. Student vs. master. The Terps’ game against Northwestern will see plenty of familiarity, not just on the field. Maryland head coach Missy Meharg coached Northwestern’s Tracey Fuchs in the 1995 Pan American Games and in the 1996 Summer Olympics.
