Box Score
#8 Virginia
1
2
#3 Maryland
COLLEGE PARK, Md. – The third-ranked Maryland field hockey team held off No. 8 Virginia, 2-1, Tuesday afternoon to win its third straight game over a top 10 opponent. The Terrapins (14-3) have won seven straight games since the end of September.
In the last eight days, the Terrapins beat then-No. 5 Penn State, 5-4, Oct. 16 and then then-No. 1 Connecticut, 2-1, Sunday.
“Before the season even started, we knew this would be an incredibly tough week of competition,” head coach Missy Meharg said. “I couldn't be happier today. We really work hard at having a high-level schedule. We just couldn't be more pleased with how the women responded to an incredible game against a great UConn team Sunday and then 48 hours later, playing UVA, who is so tactically sophisticated. It took us a little while to get under control what they were doing, but when we did, I thought we were solid.”
Sophomore Linnea Gonzales opened the scoring when she banged one in off a penalty corner in the 24th minute. Junior Lein Holsboer and redshirt senior Emma Rissinger assisted on the play.
The Cavaliers (11-7) tied it up six minutes later when Riley Tata scored off the rebound on a penalty corner. The teams would stay tied at one at halftime.
In the 44th minute, freshman Madison Maguire broke the tie when she finished off Rissinger's pass behind the Virginia goalkeeper.
The Cavaliers outshot the Terps, 19-6. Redshirt junior goalkeeper Sarah Bates had a career-high eight saves.
Graduate student Grace Balsdon was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week Tuesday for the third time this season. She led the Terrapins' defense to a great effort that led to a 2-1 victory over #1 Connecticut (16-1) Sunday. She scored to tie the match in the first half. Then, Balsdon and the defense held the nation's top scoring team to well under its average of 5.41 goals per game and the nation's top goal scorer, UConn's Charlotte Veitner, scoreless. They dealt the Huskies their first loss of the season.
Next, Maryland will close the regular season Saturday by hosting Rutgers (9-7, 2-5) at 1 p.m. at the Field Hockey & Lacrosse Complex. Admission and parking are both free.
The Terrapins will be honoring seniors Grace Balsdon, Courtney Deena, Delaney Leathers, Welma Luus and Emma Rissinger prior to Saturday's game.
Fans can join the Terps for Spooky Saturday and the first 50 fans will receive a Maryland witch hat. The Terrapins will also be signing autographs after the game.
The Maryland-Rutgers game will be streamed live on the BTN2Go app, which is the official app of the Big Ten Network. It will be a BTN Plus production and will require an additional subscription. Fans can access all Big Ten content on BTN Plus for $119.95 per year or a $14.95 monthly subscription. A Maryland School Pass for BTN Plus, which includes all Terrapin contests, home and away, on BTN Plus for $79.95 per year or for a $9.95 monthly subscription.
Fans outside of the U.S. will be able to watch here, using their BTN Plus subscriptions.
Live Stats will be available and updates will also be posted to the Maryland Field Hockey Twitter feed, so "Follow" to get updates sent straight to you.
DEFLECTIONS: Maryland leads the all-time series with Virginia, 40-20-2, and has won 18 of the last 19 matchups, dating back to 2001. The Terps are 7-0 vs. the Cavaliers at the Field Hockey & Lacrosse Complex…The Terps are 112-49 all-time vs. top five teams… Maryland is 155-17 (.901) in the 13 seasons at the Field Hockey & Lacrosse Complex…Meharg owns a record of 523-126-9 (.802) in her 29 years as head coach of the Terrapins.
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