Forward Alyssa Parker high-fives assistant coach Dina Rizzo after Parker scored a crucial goal to put the Terps up by two during their 4-3 victory over Penn State on Oct. 10, 2014 at Field Hockey and Lacrosse Complex.

Alyssa Parker signed autographs after Sunday’s Terrapins field hockey win and then beamed as she trotted across the field. Before Friday, the junior forward had failed to score in 10 straight games and had lost her starting job to midfielder Lein Holsboer.

But Parker rediscovered her offensive rhythm in victories over Penn and No. 4 Penn State. She scored a crucial goal to help the Terps top the Nittany Lions, 4-3, on Friday and followed up her performance with another score Sunday in a 9-0

lambasting of the Quakers.

Despite her new role coming off the bench, Parker’s excitement seemed fitting after her most productive weekend of the No. 2 Terps’ season.

“Definitely a great job from her coming from the bench,” defender Sarah Sprink said. “Just kind of dominating and showing why she is supposed to play.”

Parker’s role started to diminish when the Terps played Michigan on Sept. 26. The Woodbine native played less than 13 minutes despite starting. In an interview at practice the following week, Parker said she wasn’t injured and that her absence from the field was a “coach’s decision.”

The following weekend she found herself watching the opening whistle from the sideline, and she managed only one shot during two games. But a week later, Parker has thrived off the bench.

“I’m just happy for her to get on the board because she works at her shooting so much and has fallen short,” coach Missy Meharg said. “She has had a ton of shots but hasn’t put some in, so I’m sure she’s very happy. I know we are.”

A season ago, Parker played a key role on a team that finished 22-2. She finished sixth on the team with seven goals and 20 points, fourth among players who returned to the team this year.

But up until this past weekend, her offensive production from a year ago was nonexistent. Parker finished on just one of her 24 shots before Friday’s game against Penn State. That changed after a 40-yard pass from midfielder Maxine Fluharty left her one-on-one with the keeper.

Parker took the ball wide and sent it into the back of the cage to end a 41-day scoreless drought. Still, she was quick to defer the credit for both Friday and Sunday’s goal to her teammates.

“Both goals I had were off of really good setups,” Parker said. “So props to my teammates.”

Meharg is excited to be able to bring a veteran scorer off the bench. It allows the coach to examine the opposing defense with Parker before she steps on the field.

“What’s nice about her being on the sideline with us to open the game is that we can talk to her,” Meharg said. “We can look at matchups. We can look at players.”

In addition, Parker enters the game at full stamina while the starters have already been working to wear down the opposing defense. Her high energy level enables her to have a step up on defenders.

Parker has noticed all the Terps reserves outwork opponents, especially in the final 35 minutes of contests.

“We got girls coming off the bench who’ve still got fresh legs,” Parker said. “We really use it to our advantage and just run the other team down.”

Parker also switched to more of a midfield position in recent games, which she said she has enjoyed. Her role has been in flux during the past few weeks, but she scored two goals this weekend playing her new position.

Regardless of her role moving forward, Parker’s likely to sport a grin similar to the one she flashed after Sunday’s rout whenever she has the chance to contribute.

“If I don’t get to start, but I get to play mid, then so be it,” Parker said.