No. 4 Maryland field hockey crushes No. 24 Ohio State, 6-0

In its regular-season finale in which the Terps honored its seniors, the No. 4 Maryland field hockey team had a commanding 5-0 lead over No. 24 Ohio State with about 10 minutes remaining in the game.

The Terps drew a penalty corner and were ready to cash in once more. Senior defender Riley Donnelly took the shot as it bounced off forward Margot Lawn’s stick to senior midfielder Bibi Donraadt who had her back to the cage.

Donraadt knocked the ball into the goalie and into the cage to put the Terps up, 6-0.

Maryland coasted to victory in its final game of the regular season and shut out the Buckeyes while scoring six goals. The win on Friday marked the Terps’ fourth straight victory as it will now prepare for the Big Ten Tournament, which is set to start on Nov. 4.

Maryland looked to assert its aggressiveness from the opening whistle and it attacked the Buckeyes cage early and often.

The Terps were the first team to apply pressure, as they earned the first penalty corner of the game just under two minutes into the first quarter. Despite the early chance, Maryland was unable to take advantage of the opportunity, as its shot was blocked.

The pouring rain clearly impacted each team, as they both looked to find their footing to unleash their offensive attack in the wet conditions.

Then with less than five minutes into the first quarter, it was Maryland that got on the board first. Star freshman Hope Rose swiftly ended the tie on the Terps’ third consecutive penalty corner. Rose received a pass from defender Maura Verleg, and took a brilliant shot that entered the cage and ricocheted into the top corner of the net to give Maryland the early 1-0 advantage.

After not registering any penalty corners in their previous upset victory over then No. 2 Michigan, the Terps were extremely aggressive with generating three penalty corners right out of the gates to set the tone.

Maryland kept being aggressive on offense and soon after made Ohio State pay on its fourth penalty corner of the game with just over 12 minutes remaining into the second frame.

Verleg delivered another assist, this time to senior defender Riley Donnelly, who shot a winding shot that hit nothing but the back of the left side of the cage to extend Maryland’s lead to 2-0.

Maryland kept the pressure on the Ohio State defense.

Maryland forward Margot Lawn shot a spinning shot from the right side of the field, as senior forward Mayv Clune deflected the shot into the right side of the net to give the Terps an overwhelming 3-0 lead.

Maryland’s defense continues to suffocate its opponents with well-executed defensive rotations and having star goalie Noelle Frost in the net is certainly not a bad thing for the Terps.

Frost, who was recently named the National Defensive Player of the Week, continued her dominance, screaming great communication signals to her teammates and denying any shot that came her way. Frost recorded three saves in the first half of the game to keep the Buckeyes off the board.

Maryland entered the second half with a three-goal lead and a ton of momentum on defense. Then with just under seven minutes left in the third quarter, Maryland continued to pummel Ohio State.

Maryland earned its sixth penalty corner of the game and after a dazzling save by Ohio State’s Abby Danson, Terps’ forward Anna Castaldo rocketed a shot into the right side of the cage to put Maryland up 4-0.

The Terps did not take their foot off the gas as they found another opportunity to make it an offensive party in the dangerous areas around the Buckeyes’ cage.

Maryland senior Kyler Greenwalt cashed in on the Terps penalty corner with six and a half minutes left in the third frame. Greenwalt fired a swift shot that got past an outstretched Danson, to give the Terps an overpowering 5-0 lead.

Good teams don’t allow teams any chances of getting back into games and look to continue their aggressive ways, which Maryland did beautifully.

With her back to the Ohio State cage, senior star midfielder Bibi Donraadt shot a gliding shot that swiftly entered the middle of the cage to give the Terps the dominating 6-0 lead.

The sixth goal marked Maryland’s second-highest scoring output of the season.

Maryland sent its seniors out in style as the Terps dominated on both sides of the ball to eventually deliver their seventh shutout of the season.

Three things to know

1. Maryland’s defense continues to show up and show out. At halftime, Ohio State had only recorded four shots at the goal. By holding the Buckeyes out of the cage in the first half, it marks the seventh consecutive game that the Terps defense has held their opponents out of the cage. The defense stood tall all the way to the end and Ohio State failed to slip one past Frost.
2. The Terps seniors let it all out in their final game in College Park. Clune chose the perfect time to score her first goal of the season, with a perfect rebounding shot that led into a goal in the second quarter. Donnelly continued her hot streak as well, scoring Maryland’s second goal of the contest in the second quarter.
3. Maryland will set its sights to postseason field hockey. The 2021 Big Ten Tournament will begin on Nov. 4 and Maryland is coming into the tournament with a 13-5 overall record. The Terps finished the regular season with four straight wins. It’s been another strong season for the Terps, and after the win over a top-25 opponent in Ohio State, they head into the postseason with a good amount of momentum.