Role players shined in No. 2 Maryland field hockey’s (13-1, B1G 6-0) rout of Georgetown (3-11, Big East 0-4), defeating the Hoyas 11-0 and setting a new season-high in goals.
The Terps were without three of their top five goal scorers, with forward Hope Rose missing her fourth-straight game with a lower leg injury. Midfielders Leah Crouse and Emma DeBerdine were also out.
The Terps had no problem scoring as players like midfielders Belle Bressler, Kylee Niswonger and forward Sam Zwyna each contributed.
The penalty corner offense was clicking for the Terps in the first quarter, converting on two of their four corners as the Terps scored four first-quarter goals, setting the tone for the rest of the way.
“We’re finishing both from open play and corners, which is really positive for us,” assistant coach Scott Tupper said. “It shows a really good level of discipline for the girls. They continued to play smart and simple hockey throughout the game.”
Bressler continued her breakout season. In the middle of the second quarter, Bressler had a one-on-one with Hoyas’ goalie Ciara Weets, Bressler scored, flipping the ball over a sprawled-out Weets to make it 5-0, Maryland.
Making her second career start, Niswonger made the most of her 15 minutes of action before leaving the game after taking a ball off her leg.
A minute after her goal, Bressler sent a long pass across the pitch and into the circle to Niswonger, who punched it in, scoring her second career goal.
In the beginning of the third quarter, defender Riley Donnelly opted to pass on a penalty corner to Zwyna, who was open on the right. Zwyna snuck the ball for her second career collegiate goal, her first in two years.
“We rotate in a lot of girls, and their level of play didn’t dip throughout the game, so that was really exciting to see,” Tupper said.
The Terps dominated the Hoyas, outshooting them 39-0. The last time Maryland held an opponent shotless was their September 2019 5-0 victory at Towson.
Donnelly and midfielder Bibi Donraadt each had monster games, both securing a hat trick.
Donnelly secured the hat trick first, Maryland field hockey’s first hat trick since Madison Maguire’s hat trick in Maryland’s 5-1 victory against Michigan State in 2019.
“We’re joking now, her parents are here right now, and they’ve been feeding us dinner, so they must have been putting something in there,” Donnelly said. “We both work really hard, and I love to see her succeed.”
Donnelly scored two of her goals off penalty strokes, a role Rose typically holds.
“I do them a lot at practice and training,” Donnelly said. “It didn’t feel like it’s been a long time…just happy that I can step up and put some in for the team.”
Donnelly had an assist, while Donraadt had three assists, finishing with seven and nine points, respectively.
The Terps will return to Big Ten play on Sunday when No. 20 Rutgers visits, where the Terps look to remain undefeated in conference play.