Freshman Carrie Hanks celebrates just after sending a hard shot into the cage during the University of Maryland vs. Temple University game on Sunday at the Field Hockey & Lacrosse Complex in College Park, MD.

Carrie Hanks stood on the right side of Temple’s circle, watching as Terrapins field hockey midfielder Anna Dessoye lined up to take a penalty corner. Dessoye sent the ball in and midfielder Steffi Schneid cracked a shot from the left side of the circle.

Owls goalkeeper Lizzy Millen made the save, though, which redirected the ball out to her left where Hanks had been waiting. Seizing the opportunity, Hanks lined up the shot and buried it inside the right post, inches from Millen’s left pad.

“All of a sudden I was like. ‘Oh my God, that was my first goal,’“ Hanks said.

The freshman notched the first goal of her career to help the No. 3 Terps defeat No. 16 Temple, 3-0, and her play on defense was equally as important in the victory.

Defender Rachel Frusher, who started the first five games of the season at center back, was ruled out with a sore hip just before the opening whistle and did not play against the Owls. With Frusher on the bench, coach Missy Meharg slid Hanks into the center back role and started midfielder Delaney Leathers in Hanks’ usual spot.

While Hanks had occasionally played a few minutes at the position when Frusher would sub out during prior games, she had never been forced to play the position for an extended period of time.

“It was a little bit of an adjustment of knowing how far I should move up and how far I should be staying back at times,” Hanks said.

Hanks’ inexperience at center back occasionally showed in the first half when she got caught too far in the attacking end. Meharg joked after the game that she had to remind Hanks that she wasn’t a center forward.

Because the Owls have a high-powered offense that features fast attackers, it was important that Hanks didn’t roam too far forward. With only defender Sarah Sprink behind her, it was vital that the backs work together to prevent Temple forward Amber Youtz from using her speed to get quality looks on goalkeeper Brooke Cabrera.

“During halftime, Sarah and I talked about the communication that we had to establish when we are moving and shifting,” Hanks said. “It was getting there by the end of the game, knowing how far I needed to drop for certain players.”

Hanks and Sprink made the necessary adjustments over the course of the game and combined to help the Terps defense limit Temple to three shots on goal.

And despite being forced to play a more defensive-minded game, Hanks made the most of her chances in Temple’s end. While the New Yorker may be listed as a defender, she proved her value on the offensive end in high school with 32 goals and 23 assists.

Hanks’ rebound shot that found the back of the net Sunday showed a glimpse of what she has to offer at the college level.

“She has got a wicked shot,” Meharg said. “We are going to see her in the point column a lot over her four years.”

With her scoring and stifling defense while playing an unfamilar position, Hanks proved her value to the Terps just six games into her career.

“It’s a luxury to have Carrie on the team because she can play anywhere,” Meharg said.