The Maryland field hockey team is ranked No. 17 in the NFHCA Coaches poll released Tuesday, the Terps’ lowest ranking since at least 1998.
Coach Missy Meharg’s squad played one contest last week, falling to then-No. 6 Michigan in double overtime. The Wolverines scored in the final second of the second overtime period to give Maryland its fifth loss this season.
“The thing about this team is you don’t know what they can do,” Meharg said. “We’re still working on fixing attack penalty corners and defense penalty corners and we’re going to be in a great spot.”
The Terps, who were ranked as high as No. 6 earlier this season, enter Friday’s contest against Michigan State with a pair of Big Ten losses. Overall, Maryland is 6-5 in 2017, Meharg’s 30th year as head coach. The Terps have lost more than five games just twice in the last 18 seasons.
Maryland has struggled early in games but has been fueled by a number of second-half comebacks.
Connecticut and Duke remain in the top two spots, respectively. After its win against the Terps, Michigan moved up to No. 4. Penn State is ranked No. 5, with Northwestern, Rutgers and Iowa also representing the Big Ten in the Top 25.
