In only the ninth minute of action Sunday against No. 20 Massachusetts, Terrapin field hockey goalkeeper Melissa Vassalotti was already on top of her game.
A streaking Minutewomen forward sent a cross-crease pass to a teammate that had an open lane to the goal. But the ball never got to its target. Vassalotti dove headfirst toward the pass and deflected it over top of the Terps’ net with her stick.
Vassalotti was in prime form over the weekend, recording six total saves, with three against No. 11 Boston College and another three in a stifling defensive effort against Massachusetts to earn her first shutout of the season.
After splitting time with true freshman Natalie Hunter during the Terps’ first four games of the season, Vassalotti has started the past three. Despite her above-average performance over the weekend, coach Missy Meharg said Vassalotti has not yet cemented herself as the starter and that a goalie rotation might still be used later in the season.
“Melissa’s doing very well,” Meharg said when asked whether Vassalotti would be the Terps’ permanent starter. “We’re very confident that Natalie’s ready.”
BREAKING RECORDS
Before Sunday’s game against the Minutewomen, forward Katie O’Donnell was honored for breaking the ACC’s career point record previously held by Virginia forward Meredith Thorpe.
O’Donnell stood at midfield to a standing ovation from 373 as Meharg presented her senior co-captain with a bouquet of flowers.
After notching four points over the weekend, O’Donnell now has 234 total. The previous record was 231, set by Thorpe in 1998.
“I don’t know how significant it is, but it’s pretty cool,” O’Donnell said. “It’s been a long time since that record’s been beat, so hopefully, I’ll have that record for a while. It’s kind of cool to know that my name will be up there.”
Although O’Donnell has had one of the most productive careers ever for a Terp, she won’t come anywhere close to reaching the all-time NCAA record. Marina DiGiacomo, a former Old Dominion forward, amassed an astounding 414 points from 1997-2000.
Given her current scoring rate, O’Donnell should end up somewhere between No. 5 and No. 7. Former Ball State forward Sally Northcroft is fifth all-time with 270 points.
HANGING TOUGH
In Saturday’s game against the Eagles, tipped passes struck both O’Donnell and defender Alicia Morawski. O’Donnell was hit in the back around midfield in the game’s second half, while Morawski was hit in the face early in the match. Despite suffering what appeared to be obvious injuries, both seniors remained in the game.
The Terps also played more physically against Boston College, often times running into opposing players and sometimes knocking them over. There were three green cards given in the game — two to the Eagles and one to the Terps.
“I’m surprised we haven’t had many cards yet this season,” Meharg said. “The team’s been very disciplined, but we’re going to start seeing more and more with the nature of the ACC.”
jengelke@umdbk.com