No. 4 Maryland field hockey vs. No. 24 Ohio State preview

No. 4 Maryland field hockey will welcome the No. 24 Ohio State Buckeyes to College Park for its season finale at the Field Hockey and Lacrosse Complex.

The Terps (12-5) are coming off of an upset 2-1 victory over the then-No. 2 Michigan Wolverines marking the first time this season that a team has defeated the Wolverines in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

On the other hand, Ohio State (7-9) is currently on a four-game losing streak after dropping its last game to No. 3 Rutgers on Oct. 24.

During the contest versus Ohio State, Maryland will honor its seniors: Taylor Mason, Bibi Donraadt, Mayv Clune, Julianna Tornetta, Kyler Greenwalt, Brooke DeBerdine, Noelle Frost, and Riley Donnelly.

Maryland is a perfect 9-0 versus the Buckeyes, including the postseason, since joining the Big Ten in 2014.

Friday’s game will take place at 6 p.m. and will air on BTN Plus.

Now let’s look at the Ohio State Buckeyes.

Ohio State Buckeyes: 7-9 (1-6 Big Ten)

2020 record: 7-9 (2-5 Big Ten)

The Ohio State Buckeyes are led by their head coach Jarred Martin, who’s entering his fifth season at the helm of the field hockey program. Martin has led the Buckeyes to success, earning 38 victories and ending with a .500 record or better in each of his first four seasons in Columbus, Ohio.

The former U.S. Men’s National field hockey coach went to Columbus after experiencing great success as an assistant coach at Duke University. During his time with the Blue Devils, Martin guided Duke to a 124-79 record with seven NCAA Tournament appearances and Final Four appearances in 2013 and 2015.

Last season, Martin led Ohio State to victories in seven of its last nine games and an appearance in the Big Ten championship. The Saratoga Springs, New York native led one of the best offensive attacks in the country in 2019, as his team was ranked 10th in the nation in goals per game with a 3.06 average.

This season, although the Buckeyes are ranked, the team has slipped as they are on a four-game losing streak coming into College Park.

Players to know

Leanne Bough, junior midfielder (No. 1) —The Whitney Point, New York native leads the Buckeyes in goals this season, recording five goals in her junior campaign. Bough brings the aggression for Ohio State’s attack, as she ranks eighth in the Big Ten with 45 shots. The talented midfielder is a clutch player for her club, as she has recorded four game-winning goals this season.

Emma Goldean, senior midfielder (No. 8) — Goldean ranks second on the club in goals, chipping in four goals for the Buckeyes this season. The Charlotte, North Carolina native is one of the most experienced members of a team loaded with potential. In Ohio State’s last victory versus Ohio on Oct. 10, Goldean recorded a dominating two goals. Goldean also has contributed eight shots to the Buckeyes attack, with one assist to bolster her presence on the field.

Sarah Charley, junior forward (No. 25) — The junior is tied for third place in goals, registering three on the season for Ohio State. Charley has also amassed 17 shots this season, to go along with 12 shots on goal. The Worthington, Ohio native has recorded one assist for her home state Buckeyes.

Strength

Shots on goals percentage. For a team that has struggled in conference play this season, dropping three spots in the latest coaches poll, Ohio State is cashing in on its shots on goal. The Buckeyes have registered a 52.3% clip on their shots.

Weakness

Shots/Goals. Ohio State averages a troubling 1.44 goals per game in a conference loaded with teams with extreme offensive firepower. Big Ten field hockey consists of athleticism and an abundance of talent across the board, so it does not bode well that the Buckeyes can not score at a high clip. The Terps, on the other hand, are averaging 2.88 per game.

Three things to watch

1. Can Maryland wrap up their home schedule with a victory? Maryland is 6-3 when playing on its home turf. The Terps will look to secure their seventh victory in College Park, for their most wins at home since they went 10-0 at the Field Hockey and Lacrosse Complex in 2019. Maryland will look to build momentum going into the postseason with a win at home.

2. What will the Terps defense do for an encore? Maryland’s defense has been hitting its stride at the perfect time, by making timely rotations and creating problems for its opponents. The Terps are led by star goalie Noelle Frost, who was recently named as the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week and the National Defensive Player of the Week. Frost held No. 2 Michigan out of the cage for an entire half and recorded six saves in Maryland’s upset 2-1 victory.

3. Can Maryland continue its recent streak? With a victory over the Buckeyes, Maryland can extend its winning streak to four games on the season. The Terps have been playing outstanding lately and will look to continue their winning ways into the upcoming Big Ten Tournament.