After proving their dominance against their previous six ranked opponents, the Terps looked to tune-up against their Big Ten punching bag, the 4-8 Indiana Hoosiers. The Terps entered this match 6-0 against the Hoosiers. And their streak continued, as Maryland won the match 6-0.
“I think when we play for each other that’s when we’re the most successful,” Mayv Clune said.
The team selflessness was there and it showed on the pitch as almost every player got to see the field. The Maryland side had the most talent and cohesion on the field, dominating possession and holding off the Indiana attack, allowing only two shots in the final minute of the first quarter.
Maryland offense applied relentless pressure on Hoosier goalie, Shelby Querry, who put the Hoosier defense on her back. Even with the solid effort by Querry there was no stopping the Maryland attack.
Maryland got their first goal off a perfectly placed shot from Linda Cobano in just five minutes. A few shots later, the Terps found the back of the net again with a goal by forward Bibi Donraadt. The rest of the game Maryland refused to take their foot off the pedal.
The Terps looked especially comfortable going into the second quarter, resting their starters and giving minutes to players who rarely ever see the field.
“We knew beforehand this would be an opportunity to play a lot of players and we were very pleased with all of the women and their performance during the match,” said head coach Missy Meharg.
The second quarter saw the Maryland offense awarded the first penalty corners of the game. After three penalty corner attempts, the Terps were able to find the back of the cage again with a tidy goal by Clune, putting the Terps up 3-0.
“Mayv Clune is a natural goal scorer,” Meharg said, “…and I think some of the goal shots and elimination skills you saw today she can do that.”
Nothing seemed to come easy for the Hoosiers even with the inexperience of new players on the Maryland side. By the end of the half, the Indiana attack still had only two shots.
At the start of the second half, Indiana looked visibly shot down as Maryland continuously peppered the cage with shots. Maryland kept the ball on Indiana’s side of the field and with the consistent attack, earned penalty shots. With several set piece opportunities, the Maryland attack was able to put two more goals on the board— the first by Cobano almost seven minutes in, and just two minutes after that, forward Lizzy Dessoye was able to get a goal of her own.
“It’s mostly just staying calm in the circle,” Dessoye said. “Our defense is gritty so it’s fun to practice against them… so we’re taking what we do in practice into the game,”
With the Terps up 5-0 the rest of the quarter, Maryland coasted and continued to make efforts at running the score up with new faces on the field.
The fourth quarter was much different for the Maryland backline as they finally saw action from the Indiana attack. The Hoosiers were finally able to get their first shots since the first quarter, but the reserves were able to hold the shutout.
The newfound Indiana effort largely meant nothing and Maryland was able to score again with an easy goal by Clune that was a result of sloppy pass in the Indiana backline.
After the sixth goal, Maryland’s third straight shutout, which ties a school record, and tenth straight win was secured, as their title hopes intensify.
