By Ben Geffner
Just over five minutes into the game, graduate student Margot Lawn found the ball on the left baseline, with two defenders swarming her. To avoid going out of bounds, the Maryland native air dribbled the ball, weaving around to the right side of the goal before striking it into the back of the net.
The quick goal helped No. 4 Maryland gain an early lead against the Yale Bulldogs that was never contested, as the Terps coasted to a 3-1 win to improve their record to 6-1 on the season.
The Terps were quiet offensively in the wake of Lawn’s goal with only one shot on goal attempted the remainder of the first quarter – a power shot by junior Hope Rose that was saved by Yale keeper Luanna Summer.
The second quarter was a defensive masterclass for Maryland, as the Terps stopped three penalty corners from the Bulldogs in the span of four minutes. Then, with just under six minutes left in the half, the Terps scored once again, this time on a Josie Hollamon penalty corner shot from top left of the circle. It was the freshman’s second career goal, and the first one since last Sunday’s overtime game-winner.
Two more penalty corners from Margot Lawn followed, but the graduate student was unable to convert on both. Two missed shots by Yale – one of which was saved by freshman keeper Alyssa Klebbasko in only her second game as a starter – closed out the quarter and left Maryland up two goals to nothing at the half.
The Terps came out aggressive to start the third quarter, as Hollamon, Hannah Boss, and Anna Castaldo weaved through traffic and powered shots right at the net that were just blocked by Summer in three impressive saves.
Two missed shots by Yale followed; however, the Bulldogs were finally able to convert with just a second left in the quarter, on a second chance goal by sophomore Poppy Beales that served as her first of the season and brought the score to 2-1 to end the third.
Four minutes into the fourth quarter, the Terps executed a flawless play on their seventh penalty corner shot of the game. In one of the top plays of the season, Lawn passed to Rose on the left perimeter. After receiving the ball outside the circle, Rose then took a step forward and in one swift motion, the two-time All-Big Ten Second Team member powered in a straight drive shot from way outside that hit nothing but net. It was Lawn’s fifth assist on the season and Rose’s fourth goal in two games.
Rose’s penalty corner goal helped the Terps put an exclamation mark on things, making it a 3-1 game and giving the Terps the victory over the Bulldogs in the first ever match between the two teams.
Maryland plays once more in College Park this Thursday, as they take on the No. 15 Princeton Tigers (1-3) before leaving town for more than two weeks in road matchups against No. 6 Virginia (5-1) and No. 12 Rutgers (6-0).
