For the first time this season, the Terps faced adversity.
Three minutes into the game, the Blue Devils intercepted a pass and were awarded a penalty corner.
Duke took advantage of the chance and scored.
Blue Devils’ forward, Issy Carey, fired a missile into the net, giving Duke a 1-0 lead.
The Blue Devils’ lead held for 20 minutes until No. 4 Maryland field hockey (4-0) responded, scoring six unanswered goals over the final three quarters to trounce No. 18 Duke (2-2), 7-2.
Seven different players scored for the Terps, as Maryland got goals from forwards, midfielders, and a defender.
“Seven goals is definitely a lot, and personally to have seven girls who are able to put the ball in the net is just very impressive,” midfielder Emma DeBerdine said.
The offense found its groove in the second quarter as Terps’ forward Hope Rose’s hot start to her sophomore season continued.
On Maryland’s second penalty corner of the game, Rose fired the shot and the ball was deflected up into the air and over Duke goalie Piper Hampsch’s head, and into the net, tying the game.
Rose already has four goals on the season and recorded two more assists today.
A few minutes later, Terps defender Maura Verleg fired a shot just inside the circle that found the back of the net to put Maryland ahead 2-1.
After not much action in the third quarter, Hampsch came out of the cage late in the third quarter to defend, but Rose found midfielder Leah Crouse in front of the net with only a Blue Devil defender in front.
Crouse pushed the ball past the defender into the net, marking a score against her former team. Crouse’s goal put Maryland ahead, 3-1.
“She’s a huge part of our team and just being able to have that win is definitely very special for her and for us,” DeBerdine said.
Maryland’s offense hounded the Blue Devils in the fourth, firing 11 shots and scoring four times. In total, Maryland outshot Duke 23-4, including 17 shots on goal.
Midfielder Kylee Niswonger scored her first collegiate goal in the final minute of the game. Niswonger deflected Terps’ midfielder Danielle van Rootselaar’s shot off a penalty corner into the net.
DeBerdine, midfielder Bibi Donraadt, and forward Margot Lawn scored the other goals for the Terps.
Duke scored again late in the fourth quarter, finishing two for three on penalty corners in the game.
After sweeping the B1G/ACC Cup, the Terps are off to their best start since 2018, and this marks the second time this season the Terps’ offense has exploded for seven goals in just four games.
“I think it’s just the team atmosphere is great,” DeBerdine said. “We all love to win. We’re all very competitive no matter if it’s at practice or we’re in the game. We just love each other so much.”
The Terps return home next weekend for the 22nd annual Terrapin Invitational, where Maryland will take on No. 7 Harvard and New Hampshire.
