Redshirt Junior Kasey Tapman fights to gain possesion during the Maryland Terrapins vs. the Miami (Ohio) Redhawks game on Sunday at the Field Hockey & Lacrosse Complex in College Park, MD. The Terrapins won 3-1.
Despite earning a pair of 3-0 wins two weekends ago, the Terrapins field hockey offense had a plethora of shots stopped. Drexel goalkeeper Jantein Hunter set a career high with 18 saves against the Terps, and Temple goalkeeper Lizzy Millen tied her career high with 17.
And when the No. 2 Terps traveled to Evanston, Illinois to play No. 15 Northwestern on Saturday they again had to contend with stellar goaltending. Wildcats goalkeeper Maddy Carpenter tied her career high with eight saves and helped her team top the Terps, 3-2.
The Terps play an aggressive style that sends a lot shots at opposing goalkeepers, but the netminders have been putting up career bests to limit the Terps’ goals.
“Maddy Carpenter, we made her look like an Olympian,” coach Missy Meharg said. “This isn’t the first goalie this has been with.”
In each of the Terps’ past four games, the opposing goalie has set or tied a career mark in saves. While the Terps have come out on top in three of those contests, they are beginning to grow frustrated.
And Saturday the inability to find the back of the net more than twice resulted in their second loss of the season.
“We just need more detail in where we are putting it,” Meharg said.
While the Terps’ shot on goal percentage is down slightly from last season, it is the conversion rate that stands out. Last year, the Terps scored on 23.1 percent of their shots and tallied 4.2 goals per game. This season, though, the Terps are shooting 12.2 percent and have scored 2.7 goals per game.
Whether the Terps aren’t taking as strong of shots this season or opposing goalkeepers are just playing much better, the Terps offense is struggling to convert and irritation is building.
“Obviously we are getting a little tired of making all of the goalies we play against look like superstars,” Meharg said.
