Maryland field hockey coach Missy Meharg urged the team’s forwards to emerge as consistent scoring threats at the end of September. While they’ve responded, the Terps have also received production from other players.
In the No. 12 Terps’ 6-0 win against No. 21 Rutgers on Sunday, defender Melissa Wilken scored three times. She tallied just two goals entering the regular season finale and became the first Maryland player to secure a hat trick this season. Wilken also scored a goal in the Terps’ 5-4 victory over No. 3 Virginia on Oct. 17.
[Read more: Maryland field hockey’s Kyler Greenwalt named Big Ten Freshman of the Week for second time]
In Maryland’s 2-1 double-overtime win against No. 6 Penn State on Oct. 15, defender Carrie Hanks switched to forward to score the game-winning goal.
The Terps ended the regular season on a six-game winning streak, during which they scored 24 times.
“We’re focusing on games,” Meharg said Oct. 17. “We’re focusing on sustained training and intensity. Once we started getting that, it was just factual that it was going to happen in games.”
Maryland’s output against the Scarlet Knights was its second-best offensive performance this season. The Terps beat Towson, 8-0, on Sept. 8.
Maryland is averaging close to three goals and about 20 shots per game entering the Big Ten tournament.
