Box Score COLLEGE PARK, Md. – The eighth-ranked Maryland field hockey team (3-3) stormed past American, 6-1, Sunday afternoon at the Field Hockey & Lacrosse Complex. Five Terrapins scored in the win and senior co-captain Sarah Sprink picked up her third career hat trick in the victory.
Five of the Terrapins' six goals came off of penalty corners. Redshirt junior Emma Rissinger added three assists, while sophomore Lein Holsboer added two assists and a score. Junior Delaney Leathers also assisted twice.
Sprink broke open the scoring 15 minutes into the match with her first score of the year. Sprink banged in a goal off a penalty corner, set up by senior Anna Dessoye and Leathers.
Three minutes later, freshman Julie Duncan tapped in her first career score behind the American keeper off a pass from senior Shari Jones.
Freshman Linnea Gonzales made it a 3-0 lead for the Terrapins with 14:31 left in the half when she struck off a penalty corner, set up by Leathers and Holsboer. Maryland took its three-goal lead into the break.
The Eagles (4-2) got on the board when Grace Parke tipped in a shot in the 50th minute to make it 3-1. Less than two minutes later, Sprink answered for the Terrapins with her second score off of a penalty corner.
With just under 20 minute remaining, Sprink completed the hat trick to make it 5-1. The Terrapins were awarded a penalty corner with less than 10 seconds left in the game and Holsboer added their sixth and final goal with no time on the clock.
Maryland outshot American, 27-7, and had nine penalty corners to five. Freshman goalkeeper Sarah Holliday made her first career start. Redshirt senior goalkeeper Jill Genovese played the second half and picked up two saves.
Maryland honored its 2005 NCAA Championship team at Sunday's game against American. The 2005 Terrapins went 23-2 overall and defeated No. 4 Duke, 1-0, for Maryland's fourth NCAA title and third under Meharg.
Next, the Terrapins will host No. 9 Northwestern (5-2) to the Field Hockey & Lacrosse Complex Friday at 3:30 p.m. in the Big Ten opener. Admission is free and parking will be free in lot 11b after 2 p.m.
The Terps-Wildcats game will be shown live around the world on the Big Ten Network. Click here to get your channel number for BTN. BTN is available on all major video providers, including DIRECTV, Verizon FiOS, Comcast Xfinity, and about 300 additional video providers across North America. Fans can also watch on BTN2Go, or on the BTN's mobile app, and will be asked to enter their cable login information.
International fans will be able to watch using their BTN Plus subscriptions.
Live Stats for Friday's game will be available and updates will also be posted to the Maryland Field Hockey Twitter feed.
DEFLECTIONS
Nine Terrapins have combined to score 20 goals this year…Maryland is 41-1 all-time vs. American and has won 15 straight matchups in the series, dating back to 2004…Head coach Missy Meharg is approaching 500 career wins with her current record of 493-122-9 (.797)…Only three other coaches in NCAA history have reached 500 career wins.
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