By: Andrew Diveley
Led by a hat trick from Kylee Niswonger, No. 5 Maryland dominated offensively, defeating Lock Haven, 8-1, in a high-scoring contest Sunday afternoon.
The victory marked Maryland’s highest-scoring game since an 11-0 rout of Georgetown last October.
Despite Lock Haven striking first with a goal just over a minute into the game, Maryland’s attack quickly took over.
Lock Haven’s Elien Bos capitalized on a penalty corner opportunity, scoring her first goal of the season after a save by Maryland goalkeeper Alyssa Klebasko deflected back into the circle. However, Lock Haven’s lead was short-lived, as Niswonger responded swiftly with her first goal of the season — assisted by Fleur Knopert — in the third minute.
From that point forward, Maryland controlled the game.
The Terps peppered Lock Haven’s goalkeeper, Kelsey Felix, with shot after shot, forcing her to make five saves in the first quarter alone. Carly Hynd added to Maryland’s lead with her first goal of the season, giving the Terps a 2-1 edge at the end of a dominant first quarter. Maryland outshot Lock Haven 8-2 through the first 15 minutes.
Lock Haven struggled to handle Maryland’s relentless pressure, and the Terps maintained their offensive onslaught throughout the second quarter.
Despite 12 penalty corner opportunities throughout the game, Maryland initially had difficulty converting. Felix continued her standout performance in goal, making 11 saves in 40 minutes of play before being substituted in the third quarter.
Maryland’s persistence paid off in the second half, starting with a quick goal by Knopert just after halftime — her second of the season. Niswonger continued her spectacular performance, scoring her second goal midway through the third quarter. The goal extended Maryland’s lead to 4-1.
“We were kind of carrying a little bit too much in the second quarter, so we just really wanted to focus on what we do best, and that’s passing,” Niswonger said.
Alina Gerke followed shortly after with her first goal of the season, finishing off a rebound from a penalty corner.
The Terps didn’t let up, as Ellie Goldstein and Leah Horwitz both scored in the latter stages of the game, each finding the back of the cage for the first time this season. Niswonger capped off her hat trick in the final seconds, slotting a shot into the bottom corner to complete an 8-1 victory for Maryland.
The Terps fired 25 shots, with 21 on target — an 82% accuracy rate that overwhelmed Lock Haven’s defense. Maryland’s 12 penalty corners were another significant factor, as the team capitalized on set pieces — a notable improvement after recent struggles in that area.
“So it’s just, you know, keep nipping away at the things that we need to work on in training. And we’re seeing the things we’re working on in training happen in the matches,” head coach Missy Meharg said.
Maryland’s defensive effort was strong. The Terps held Lock Haven to just two penalty corners and limited their offensive chances after the first quarter. Klebasko made key saves early in the match to keep the game in control before Maryland’s offense took over.
This victory not only marked Maryland’s highest-scoring game of the season but also highlighted the team’s growing offensive confidence. The offense tallied eight goals from six different players. As Maryland improves to 4-2, the Terps will look to carry this momentum into the rest of their schedule.
“I think knowing how well we play together and when we pass the ball around and when we play our game and when we use each other, how successful and strong we can be,” Maryland’s Ericka Morris-Adams said. “I think this game just gave us the confidence going into next Friday.”
Maryland will look to build on this commanding performance when they face Rutgers in their Big Ten opener on Friday.
