No. 8 Maryland field hockey shuts down James Madison in 3-0 win

No. 8 Maryland field hockey was up 2-0 over James Madison with 10 minutes remaining in the third quarter.

Just three minutes after midfielder/forward Taylor Mason scored the Terps’ second goal, Maryland drew its seventh penalty corner of the game. Midfielder Emma DeBerdine inserted the ball to freshman forward Hope Rose and after moving the ball around, Rose took the shot and Terps’ star forward Bibi Donraadt deflected it into the goal extending Maryland’s lead to three.

The Terps went on to hold James Madison scoreless and defeated the Dukes, 3-0. With the win, Maryland improved to 9-4 on the season. The Terps’ matchup with James Madison was the program’s first unranked game since its 4-0 victory over American back on Sept. 26.

Maryland came out with an intense focus on defense right out of the gates in the first quarter against James Madison, rotating precisely and limiting the Dukes’ ability to move the ball inside dangerous areas.

The Terps’ offense put extreme pressure on the interior of their opponents defense. Maryland registered four shots in the first quarter, showcasing its ability to relentlessly look for opportunities to get on the board. However, the Terps drew five penalty corners in the first quarter and were unable to capitalize on any of their opportunities.

Maryland’s defense held James Madison to zero shots in a frantic first quarter with a rapid pace. After the scoreless opening frame, though, Maryland found its footing offensively soon after.

With just under 13 minutes in the second quarter, Maryland’s offense abruptly ended the short-lived tie.

Maryland forward Margot Lawn got into the heart of James Madison’s defense and delivered a dime to a trailing Hope Rose, who fired a shot that swished into the left side of the cage, to give Maryland the 1-0 lead.

By the half, Maryland’s defense had only relinquished one shot to James Madison, which was attributed to the Terps’ smothering defense and physical presence all over the field.

Maryland’s defensive first-half allowed its offense to break out in the second half.

With a little over 12 minutes remaining in the third quarter, DeBerdine put her dribbling skills on display, weaving through defenders then ultimately finding Taylor Mason, who fired a shot that slammed into the back of the cage to extend Maryland’s lead to 2-0.

Just a few minutes later, Maryland earned its seventh penalty corner in which Donraadt scored, deflecting Rose’s shot into the goal to bring the score up to 3-0.

On the other side of the ball, Maryland’s defense continued to stifle the Dukes, making it challenging for them to close the lead.

Headed into the fourth quarter, the Terps registered 20 shots, 16 on goal, as well as 10 corners. James Madison, on the other hand, took just one shot, zero on goal, and two corners. Maryland forced the Dukes to make 13 saves while Maryland goalkeeper Noelle Frost and the Terps’ defense had yet to be put into a position in which they had to make a save.

In the final frame, the Terps continued to bring the pressure. Donraadt took the first shot of the quarter quickly followed by another corner attempt. James Madison blocked Rose’s shot with about 13 minutes to go.

Maryland cruised the remainder of the contest, moving the ball with precision and defensively smothered its opponent to register its third shutout of the season at the Field Hockey and Lacrosse Complex.

The Terps have now won two straight games and will take on No. 6 Rutgers next on Oct. 15.

Three things to know

1. Maryland freshman Hope Rose has put her enormous potential on display. With less than 13 minutes remaining in the second quarter, Rose delivered a winding shot that swished directly into the left side of James Madison’s cage for a goal. With her goal versus the Dukes, Rose has registered at least one goal in the Terps last four out of five games. Rose also had one assist in this matchup, her second of the season.

2. Maryland’s defense is turning up at the right time. Maryland only allowed one shot in the first half to James Madison and then gave up just two more shots in the second half. The Terps’ defense was stellar once again, and it has been one of the strongest aspects of the program this season. By giving up just no goals against James Madison, Maryland has now conceded just one goal or less in six games this season.

3. The Terps offense got back to their aggressive ways on offense. Maryland concluded its victory versus James Madison with 22 shots, exceeding their season average of 16.6 a contest. It was a strong offensive showing for Maryland as a whole, even without midfielder Julianna Tornetta, who missed the game due to an injury, and it did just what it needed to do so that it came away with its fifth victory at home.