Well, a big week in Maryland sports kicked off Tuesday night with wins for two nationally ranked teams. I’ll start with field hockey because I was there. The Terps used intrastate opponent Towson for target practice in preparation for their Saturday showdown against the number one ranked North Carolina Tar Heels. Seven different Terps scored goals in the 9-0 rout, with sophomore Maxine Fluharty opening the scoring with an unassisted goal on a rebound off a saved penalty corner just under 7 minutes in knocking in her second goal at the 15 minute mark – also unassisted – before completing the hat trick about 7 minutes later off an assist from Ali McEvoy to run the Terps lead to 7-0. Fellow sophomore Katie Gerzabek and senior co-captain Janessa Pope scored between Fluharty’s first and second goals and Jill Witmer and Kirstie Dennig scored Maryland’s 5th and 6th goals of the night with Witmer’s goal coming just 30 seconds after Fluharty’s. Freshman midfielder Anna Dessoye picked up two assists and Lindsey Puckett and Haley Turner added one assist each. Turn rounded out the Terps first half scoring with an unassisted goal with 5 minutes remaining. The Terps were able to get of two games worth of shots in the first half alone outshooting the Tigers 26-1 and earning six corners to Towson’s one.

As the evening got chillier, the large lead allowed Coach Meharg to utilize the bench for the second half with every healthy player seeing action. Freshman goalkeeper Jill Genovese got her first taste of game experience finishing up the final 15 minutes taking over for Brooke Cabrera who started the second half in relief of starter Natalie Hunter. The Terps still out shot Towson in the second half 7 to 1 with only Shelby Sydnor finding the back of the goal with about 1:15 remaining to give the Terps their final margin of 9-0. Saturday’s game time against UNC is 1 p.m. so there’s plenty of time for you tailgaters to stop in at the Field Hockey and Lacrosse Complex and still take in the football game against NC State.

My reports from the opposite side of campus have the top ranked men’s soccer team taking care of business with a 2-0 shutout of Colgate at Ludwig Field. Maryland played a solid first half in which they out shot the Raiders 5 to 1 and earning 2 corners to Colgate’s 1. The Terps were unable to capitalize on these opportunities and the teams went to halftime tied 0-0. Redshirt junior Jake Pace had the only shot on goal for either team.

Freshman midfielder Schillo Tshuma scored the Terrapins’ first goal booting in a Patrick Mullins free kick from 3 yards out in the 62nd minute. The goal is Tshuma’s 5th of the season. Mullins scored a goal of his own in the 85th minute to provide some insurance. It is the junior’s team leading 8th goal of the season. Sophomore Jordan Tatum made his third start of the season and recorded his second shutout. Your top ranked 12-0-1 Maryland Terrapins now gear up for their showdown against ACC rival and second ranked North Carolina Game time is set for 6 pm on Friday. I hope we can fill Ludwig and rock the house.

Look for more coverage later this week. In addition to the games mentioned above, women’s soccer has two critical tests against ACC rivals beginning with Miami on Thursday night and culminating with the showdown against #1 FSU on Sunday. Of course there’s that little football game on Saturday and the Volleyball team will be on the road to take on UNS and NCSU.