Maryland field hockey returns home after a five-game road trip to face Indiana (8-7).
No. 6 Maryland (13-3) is on an 11 game winning streak, and has recorded three straight shutouts. Fifth-year senior Welma Luus won Big Ten Co-Offensive Player of the Week on Tuesday, her second time winning the award this year.
Sharing the recognition with Luus is Indiana junior Kate Barber. Barber was also named Co-Offensive Player of the Week after recording two goals and one assist last week. Indiana's freshman goalie Noëlle Rother was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week after recording 12 saves and two shutouts.
A win away would clinch at least a share of the Big Ten Championship for Maryland for a second straight year, a fact that does not surprise Maryland coach Missy Meharg. "Maryland historically has done very well nationally, so I would assume that would correlate in the league," she said.
After suffering three straight losses in the beginning of the season, the most for Maryland field hockey since 1998, it seemed inconceivable from the outside that Maryland would be on the precipice of another championship. Fortunately for Maryland, their players didn't see it that way. "I think after the losses it was necessary to say, ‘hey, it's okay. We've had losses before, there is no need to freak out,'" said senior Alyssa Parker.
"There were times when freshman were nervous and had rough patches and didn't do what they were supposed to do," she continued. "Just having that communication, ‘what's going on, I've been there. Talk to me.'"
The game will begin Friday night at 6 p.m. at the Field Hockey and Lacrosse Complex. Admission is free. The game will not be streamed online, but can be heard through WMUCSports.com. Live stats will be available and updates will be the posted to Maryland field hockey Twitter.