Coming into No. 11 Maryland field hockey’s regular season finale against Northeastern, the Terps offense, which has struggled all year, was playing its worst form of the season.

Maryland had not scored multiple goals since Oct. 10 against Iowa, and the Terps had not scored a single goal in regulation over their last two games.

With postseason play looming, the game against a Northeastern team that was a step down from some of the teams Maryland has played recently would be crucial for the Terps to find any sort of offensive rhythm.

The Terps were able to do just that, and Maryland’s offense was finally able to flip the script in a 4-0 win over Northeastern.

Maryland had its most dominant offensive performance of the season. The Terps had 28 total shots in the game, with 16 of them being on goal.

The four goals scored for Maryland is tied for the most the Terps have had all year, matching the four-goal performance against Villanova way back on Aug. 31.

Despite the game being all Terps on offense, Northeastern was able to get the first chance of the game. The Huskies had a penalty corner early into the first quarter, but it was Maryland’s defense that showed up first for the Terps, not allowing the Huskies to get a shot on goal.

Then the Maryland offense got started, using a counter-attack off the penalty corner. Brinkley Eyre sent a great pass right in front of the goal, and it was Maddie Vasilios who delivered for Maryland, giving the Terps the lead under five minutes into the first quarter.

“[It was] Huge, to score so early,” head coach Missy Meharg said. “Maddie Visilios put us on the board and the energy from that.”

Though not dominating the possession throughout the first quarter, the Terps were efficient on offense creating multiple good chances.

Late in the quarter the Maryland defense came through again. Northeastern was able to put pressure on the Terps goal but Alyssa Klebasko came through, making her first save of the game.

The Terps offense had a slight advantage in the first quarter, outshooting Northeastern 3-2. That would be the closest the shot difference would be at any point the rest of the game.

Maryland would maintain a relentless offensive onslaught towards the Northeastern goal for the rest of the game. 

Maryland’s offense broke through for a second time early in the second quarter. Josie Holloman was able to handle a tough pass off a penalty corner and fire the ball past Arabella Loveridge, giving the Terps a two-goal lead. 

Through the first half, Maryland had already built a wide margin in offensive production. The Terps outshot the Huskies 9-2, with a 5-1 advantage in shots on goal. Six of those shots came in the second quarter alone.

Two late penalty corners also gave Maryland four in the first half, while the Terps’ defense held Northeastern to only one. 

It didn’t take long into the second half for Maryland to pick up right where they left off. The Terps were able to earn two more penalty corners within a minute of the game.

Jordyn Holloman put a shot perfectly in the top right corner, but Loveridge made a great save to keep the Huskies’ deficit at two.

Loveridge was able to make two more impressive saves off Maryland penalty corners. Despite a scramble in front of the goal, Loveridge was able to keep the ball out of the net, denying Callie Rogers and Maia Adamson.

It was a busy quarter for Loveridge, as Maryland had nine shots and seven penalty corners in the third period alone. Loveridge was able to make five saves in the quarter, keeping the Terps off the board in the third quarter despite the barrage of offense.

The onslaught continued in the fourth quarter, but this time, Maryland was able to turn it into goals. First, it was Jordyn Holloman, scoring with just over 11 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, giving the Terps a three-goal lead. Then Maya Everett made it a four-goal lead for Maryland less than three minutes later.

Despite having some more chances late in the fourth quarter, nothing came from it for the Terps offense. The Maryland defense was able to hold strong, keeping Northeastern scoreless for the Terps’ sixth shutout of the season.

“They were very intense, highly competitive,” Meharg said. “There was nothing that was going to get through them.”

Maryland will now look ahead to the Big Ten tournament, where they will take on No. 7 seed Ohio State on Thursday, Nov. 6th.