All season, head coach Missy Meharg has been noncommittal on which goalie is starting before a game, and the same conversation resurfaces as postseason field hockey approaches.
Entering the season, the Terps knew a new starting goalie for the Terps after Noelle Frost graduated and became the Volunteer Assistant Coach, with goalies senior Christina Calandra and sophomore Paige Kieft battling for the job with both having minimum in-game experience.
Calandra and Kieft’s strong relationship on and off the pitch has helped the Terps keep winning no matter who is in goal.
“I would say my relationship with Paige is really good,” Calandra said. “I’m not in any way, shape or form fighting with Paige. When we step on the field, we’re playing against each other; we step off the field, we’re friends, we’re teammates, we’re supporting each other.”
For the past several weeks, it seemed like Kieft held a firm grasp on the starting “job” starting 10 straight games until No. 2 Maryland’s 5-1 loss to No. 3 Penn State. Kieft and the Terps’ defense struggled as the Nittany Lions scored three goals in under five minutes, allowing Calandra to enter late in the first half with the Terps down 4-1.
“I think it was just time for a change,” Meharg said after the Penn State loss. “I just felt Paige needed a break and when both goalies being able and ready to play, it seemed like a logical time to make a change.”
Since Calandra’s last start against Harvard, Calandra had only played 45 minutes and faced only one shot before entering the Penn State game. In relief, Calandra only allowed one goal while making two saves.
“My mindset was I’m just going to try and help out the team as best as I can,” Calandra said. “I’m confident in my skills, and I knew that I could go in and really communicate well with the defense and organize them well, and I feel like that’s something that maybe was lacking in that game.”
Calandra had a good week of practice earning her the start against No. 5 Virginia, where she made four saves, a new career high, on 11 shots helping the Terps shutout the Cavaliers, their second top-10 shutout of the season.
Calandra started the first five games of the season before moving back to the bench when Kieft earned her first start against New Hampshire in early September and played well in subsequent games.
With the number two offense in the country, outsourcing opponents by 43 goals, and a suffocating defense holding opponents to only 6.4 shots a game, the goalies have thrived in their moments.
Kieft has recorded 22 saves and allowed 20 goals, while Calandra has made 12 saves and allowed five goals this season.
“I think we all around push each other to be better at practice,” Kieft said after her first start. “I push her, she pushes me, so it’s just a good dynamic.”
The Terps have one more regular season game left against No. 13 UConn on Sunday, where the goalie situation remains in the air.
“They’ll keep battling, and we’ll see where we go for Connecticut,” Meharg said.
