By Victoria Ebner

The Maryland Terrapins field hockey team defeated the Liberty Flames 4-1 this Sunday, adding another definitive win to its 9-5 record.

The opening of the game proved to be a particularly busy one for the Terps. In the first 10 minutes, the Terps generated many crucial opportunities that proved vital to the game’s outcome.

The action kicked off in the first minute, when sophomore defender Madison Maguire took Maryland’s first shot on goal. Maguire’s drive, taken five meters out from the goal, sailed easily into Liberty’s net.

Junior forward Linnea Gonzales attempted two more shots on goal before a penalty stroke was called and sophomore defender Bodil Keus upped the score to 2-0.

Later in the half, Maryland appeared to lose some of its momentum. Taking advantage, Liberty took a shot on goal that was initially ruled a goal but then called off after two video reviews.

Maryland spent the rest of the first half primarily on Liberty’s side of the field. However, it didn’t consider the energy of Liberty, which was able to work in two shots late in the half.

“Any ball free in the circle, they shot on right away,” freshman midfielder Brooke DeBerdine said. “They weren’t afraid to shoot. They shot right away.”

Despite growing offensive threat, senior midfielder Lein Holsboer initiated two penalty corners for Maryland, with shots from Keus, junior forward Melissa Wilken and freshman midfielder Kyler Greenwalt.

The count for the game was nine shots, two corners for Maryland, three shots and no penalty corners for Liberty.

In the second half, Liberty continued to show Maryland that it could hang with the Terps. The Flames began the second half with their first penalty corner, later followed by their first goal.

A much needed wake-up call for the Terps, Gonzales sprang into action just one minute later, receiving a pass from Holsboer to quickly supply Maryland with its third goal.

Acknowledging team’s erratic stamina prior to her goal, Gonzales said, “I’d say in the middle, when the energy dropped from the referrals. But I’d say we came back from that well. We connected and brought it back up again.”

However, Liberty continued to put pressure with well-executed passing and quick moves to 50-50 balls that Maryland struggled to intercept. The Flames, refusing to let up, were able to sneak in two penalty corners.

With a score of 3-0 now under their belt, the Terps had one final surge of energy. As the clock ran out, they had one last penalty corner, and a shot from Keus capped the game at 4-1.

Though the Terps had their difficulties, head coach Missy Meharg chose to focus on the positives.

“[I] couldn’t be more proud of the women for (…) getting on the board and being dominant,” she said. “Its an area that we’ve worked super hard on and it’s coming to the forefront.”

Maryland’s season continues Friday with a home matchup against Ohio State.