After almost a year, the wait is finally over — Maryland Field Hockey has made its return to the turf as a changed team. Leading up to the 2023 season, the team has lost a host of key players, including graduate students Bibi Donraadt and Leah Crouse as well as senior Belle Bressler. Captains Emma Deberdine and Danielle Van Rootsellaar are also no longer with the Terps. To fill in these roster gaps, Maryland brought in star-studded new recruits. Two new Terps are members of the national team: Josie Hollaman (U-21) and Alyssa Klebasko (U-18). Another new addition is Maya Everett from Broadneck High School, who won Player of the Year in Maryland. Returning to College Park for their senior and graduate years, captains Rayne Wright and Maura Verleg will hopefully lead the Terps to victory as they start their season ranked third in the country.
Exhibition
First, the Terps took a trip to the West Coast to get some preparation for the upcoming season. The Terps jump-started the season by reeling in three straight wins in exhibition games. Maryland started off strong with a 4–0 shutout over Stanford on August 25. Next up on the West Coast was UC Berkeley, the game resulting in a 4–1 win for the Terps. Finally, Maryland trounced UC Davis 6–0 in their strongest exhibition game of the year. Going into the season undefeated was key for building momentum and confidence on the field.
B1G/ACC Cup
After the exhibition games, the Terps’ season kicked into full gear. From September 1-3, the Terps hosted the Big 10/Atlantic Coast Conference Cup (B1G/ACC). Going into the tournament, forward and midfielder Sammy Popper, a graduate student, was one to watch after winning the season’s first Player of the Week on August 21. Three other Terps players were named to the B1G 10 Players to Watch: defender and midfielder Josie Hollaman, forward Hope Rose and fifth-year defender Maura Verleg. Notably, Rose is a two-time member of the U.S. National Team and was named B1G 10 Freshman of the Year in 2021.
To start off the weekend, the Terps took on the Duke Blue Devils (3-0). As usual, Maryland burst out of the gates with midfielder Ashlyn Carr putting the team up 1–0 by halftime. Duke came back in the third quarter, tying the game at one apiece. Then, with 68 seconds of regulation time left, the Devils earned a penalty corner. Maryland’s goalie, Paige Kieft, who notched six saves in the game, deflected the initial shot but failed to keep the ball from hitting the back of the net. The goal proved to be the deciding factor, handing a 1–2 loss to the Terps — the first losing result of the season for Maryland. With the Terps ranked third in the country, the loss to the #20 Blue Devils went down as an upset, leaving the team hungry for redemption.
On Sunday, the Terps continued the cup against the #17-ranked Boston College Eagles. The game was a defensive battle for all of regulation, and it was still scoreless at the final buzzer. Maryland had more than a few opportunities to score, putting up six shots to the Eagles’ two, but none of the players were able to convert. Maryland freshman Alyssa Klebasko dazzled in goal to keep the game tied throughout regulation. After overtime started, it didn’t take long for the Terps to get a penalty corner. Midfielder Hannah Boss placed the ball perfectly off the corner for Josie Hollamon, who flicked the ball in for the game-winning goal.
Terrapin Invitational
On September 8, the Terps faced the unranked Miami of Ohio Redhawks (5-3), resulting in a 3–1 victory. All three Maryland goals were scored by junior Hope Rose, notching her first career hat trick. The defense also deserves major credit, as they only allowed two shots from the Redhawks—only one going in.
Maryland’s next matchup was against the Yale Bulldogs (2-4) on September 10. The Terps cruised by the Bulldogs, racking up another 3–1 win. Goals came from fifth-year Margot Lawn, freshman Josie Hollamon, and Rose. Lawn also racked up two assists on her other teammates’ tallies.
You Can’t Win Them All
As of September 12, the Terrapins have fallen from third in the country to fifth. They faced the #15-ranked Princeton Tigers (2-4) at home on September 14, falling 3–2. The Tigers started off on top, leading Maryland 2–0. Freshman Maci Bradford was able to secure the first goal for the Terps in the final minutes of the first half, putting her team back in the game. In the third quarter, Bradford was able to slap a shot into the top corner for the Terps, tying the game at two apiece. In the last 34 seconds, however, the Tigers earned a penalty corner and scored the game-winning goal. This was Maryland’s second loss of the season, and how they come back from this will determine the season they have.
Big Wins
On Monday, September 18, the Terps took a road trip down to Virginia to play the #6-ranked UVA Cavaliers. This was a tough game, coming off from a loss, the first big away game, the pressure was there. That didn’t stop the Terps. After losing to #15 Princeton, they showed out. The team came out of it with a 2–1 win topping the Cavaliers. With twelve minutes remaining in the first half, Lawn was able to find the back of the cage after a rebounded shot from sophomore Hannah Boss. Boss then scored again, this time with the help of graduate student Ashlynn Carr, who sent the initial deflected shot for Boss to rebound and finish. Up next, the Terps hit the road again on September 28 to play the #7 Rutgers Scarlet Nights away. As of September 20, the Terps have gone down to #8 nationally ranked. This game will be a tough match for the Terps, being away, as well as the Scarlet Nights being ranked #7. If the Terps come out with a win, it’ll be huge for them, and get the back up in the rankings.
