By: Max Marcilla
The Maryland Terrapins field hockey team has one of the most balanced attacks in the nation. The seventh-ranked Terps have a pair of players with double-digit goals and another two with at least five scores.
On Friday night during Maryland’s 3-1 victory over Big Ten rival Michigan State, the Terps got contributions from both a regular goal-scorer and an unsung hero.
After the Spartans bounced out to a 1-0 lead just over eight minutes into the game, the Terrapins responded. Sophomore Linnea Gonzales, who was awarded Big Ten Freshman of the Year in 2015, tapped a rebound into the back of the net to tie the game.
While Gonzales evened the score, it was freshman Madison Maguire who provided the rest of the offense for the Terrapins.
The Rumson, NJ native gave Maryland the lead early in the second half with her first career goal, then later extended the Terps’ lead to 3-1 with a shot from the far post.
“[Madison] was amazing,” Gonzales said. “She was very confident she could dribble and I think if we keep pushing her she will be a great asset.”
In the win, Maguire became just the second Terp this year (joining Gonzales) to record a multi-goal game against a Big Ten opponent.
“She’s very crafty, she’s very quick with her hands, [and] she’s going to be able to play the ball in the air,” head coach Missy Meharg said. “She’s a big-time lacrosse player too, so anything that’s around she’s going to be able to make a touch on it.”
Maguire was the star of the game, but Meharg showed her confidence in her team by playing a total of five freshmen in the game, a trend that has become an often occurrence recently.
“I’ve been trying throughout the season to continue growing and growing,” Maguire said. “I think all of us can just go up from here.”
As Maryland enters the final stretch of its regular season, it appears that the team has hit its stride. The Terps have won nine of their last 10 including four wins against ranked opponents.
“I think there’s always room for improvement,” Gonzales said. “But I think we’re on a good path and I’m excited to see what happens.”
The Terps will travel to Ohio State for a Friday afternoon bout with the Buckeyes before heading to Penn State to take on the No. 5 Nittany Lions.
