Berber Rischen and the Terps beat Temple 2-1 and Northwestern 7-2 this weekend at the 10th annual Terrapin Invitational.
The field hockey team peppered Northwestern University with 34 shots yesterday, tying last year’s season high, en route to a 7-2 victory that kept the team undefeated at 6-0 this season.
Saturday’s game didn’t go as smoothly, however, as the Terps overcame a 1-0 deficit, their first of the season, to defeat Temple University, 2-1.
After yesterday’s game, coach Missy Meharg proposed a simple question as she stood surrounded by the team while it stretched.
“How many of you were pleased with your individual defense?”
Four hands went up. The point was well taken.
Despite picking up two wins in the 10th annual Terrapin Invitational tournament and strong offensive production yesterday, a few weaknesses shone through the box scores.
“[Saturday] was a bit of a debacle,” Meharg said of the game versus Temple. “I don’t think we had a championship mentality at all. We walked out like we were too good for our opposition. But today’s performance was very good coming off of yesterday. We’re a very self-adjusting team.”
Against Northwestern, who the team hadn’t faced since 1998, the Terps took a 3-0 lead into halftime, and seven different goal-scorers fueled the victory. Senior captain Paula Infante netted her team-leading fifth goal, and freshman forward Alexis Pappas added a goal and two assists.
“We like to interchange a lot, and we work well together reading each other,” Pappas said of the forward line that has outscored opponents 25-4. “It’s nice [as a forward] because you have so many talented players behind you.”
Behind Pappas and the other forwards awaits a very stingy defensive unit, which kept Northwestern out of the Terps’ end except for a few isolated rushes. Infante and fellow captain Kristina Edmonds, as well as sophomore back Susie Rowe, played together in the backfield last season. Edmonds said freshman Brianna Davies has fit in well, and the strong team defense comes from the developed comfort with each other.
“As a defensive unit we have been playing well,” Edmonds said. “We understand how each other play and can rely on each other for certain things. I think we’ve come together really well and make a strong unit.”
The team displayed numerous strengths in the two wins, especially against Northwestern. Converting on three penalty corners, limiting the Wildcats to five shots and producing seven goals were all good signs.
“There are days when we don’t feel like doing what we’re supposed to be doing,” Meharg said. “It’s not a choice, but you have a responsibility to your teammates and to yourself to behave a certain way. We talked a lot about that after the game [Saturday], and by their actions today, they clearly understand.”
Contact reporter Geremy Bass at geremybass@gmail.com.
