Penalty corners have been promising outlets for No. 6 Maryland field hockey in recent games. That trend continued against American on Monday night.
Midfielder Emma DeBerdine played a penalty corner entry pass to Hope Rose midway through the second quarter. The senior took a touch before laying the ball off for Josie Hollamon, who pushed a shot at the goal. Hollamon’s attempt initially rolled along the turf, but forward Fleur Knopert deflected it into the top right corner for the game’s first goal.
It was the third time in as many games that Maryland (9-3, 4-1 Big Ten) scored its opening goal from a penalty corner. The Terps later added two more in the same fashion, ultimately fueling their 4-1 win over American at Maryland’s Field Hockey and Lacrosse Complex.
It was the Terps’ fourth-straight victory, giving them their longest streak of the year.
An aggressive American press stifled the Terps in their own half to start the game.
[No. 6 Maryland field hockey uses third-quarter surge to defeat Michigan State, 3-1]
The Eagles’ pressure conversely sparked an early shot-on-goal for them. Maryland goalkeeper Alyssa Klesbako made a simple save to usher the ball out of bounds before a cohort of Terps defenders blocked the ensuing penalty corner shot.
Forward Maci Bradford followed up American’s initial chance with the Terps’ first shot of the game just under two minutes later. The look was Maryland’s cleanest of the opening quarter.
American continuously pressured Terps passers up and down the field, making it difficult for Maryland to push the pace on counters. The Eagles also won a pair of first-quarter penalty corners, and didn’t give one away to the Terps during that time.
Maryland attacked with more creativity to start the second quarter.
Rose started a quick move up the field in the 18th minute with a no-look behind-the-back pass to Ericka Morris-Adams. The defender pushed up the field before passing back to Rose, who fired a long-distance shot.
Her attempt took a deflection in the circle but was parried away by American goalie Bryn Underwood.
[Freshmen Annemijn Klijnhout, Ella Gaitan play pivotal roles for Maryland field hockey]
Knopert’s goal followed just minutes later, as the junior took advantage of the penalty corner chaos by floating the ball above Underwood. Maryland maintained that 1-0 lead into the break.
As has become customary, the Terps completely dictated the game following halftime.
“It mostly just comes from our halftime talks,” Rose said. “Today was kind of just like making sure we’re going right and not forcing it down one side, and kind of just keeping the pressure up on them.”
The Eagles worked five shots during the first 17 minutes of the game. They didn’t take another until there were less than five minutes left in the final quarter.
The Terps took 13 shots during that time, scoring twice — both on penalty corners.
Hollamon had a hand in both scores. She fired a shot into the cage in the 40th minute and assisted Bradford from a penalty corner early in the fourth quarter to make the score 3-0.
American defensive midfielder Sarah Steinman pulled a goal back for her team in the 56th minute, the Eagles’ lone score of the night.
Rose immediately responded by rolling a shot through Underwood’s legs less than a minute later. Her score was Maryland’s final of the evening, as the Terps secured another victory behind a well-balanced second-half performance.
