Terps Beat Owls, 9-1, in Exhibition
8/18/2016 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
COLLEGE PARK, Md. – The Maryland field hockey team got production from all over the roster in a 9-1 exhibition win over Temple Thursday at the Field Hockey & Lacrosse Complex. Freshmen scored four of the Terrapins' goals in the convincing victory.
Freshman Sophie Pelzer notched a hat trick and added an assist. Fellow freshman Kelee Lepage added a score and an assist. The Terps outshot the Owls, 38-2 on the day.
Graduate student Welma Luus opened the scoring when she finished off a pass from Pelzer in the 22nd minute. Luus ducked behind the Owls' keeper to bury the shot.
Five minutes later, Pelzer scored herself when she brought the ball into the circle and scored from just inside the arc to make it a two-goal lead.
Freshman Kelee Lepage added the Terps' third score when she ripped a hard shot from the top of the circle with five minutes to go before halftime. Maryland led 3-0 at the break.
Redshirt senior Emma Rissinger add the Terrapins' fourth goal in the 47th minute to open a scoring flurry for Maryland. Just over a minute later, Pelzer added her second score with a high shot from the left side. Just 16 seconds later, sophomore Olivia Reiter finished off a pass from Rissinger to make it 6-0 lead for the Terrapins with 22 minutes to play.
The Owls got on the board in the 51st minute when Sarah Keer deflected in a shot off a penalty corner.
Senior Grace Balsdon got one back for the Terrapins just under two minutes later off a penalty corner for a 7-1 lead with 18 minutes to go. Redshirt junior Brooke Adler tacked on the Terps' eighth goal in the 57th minute. Pelzer finalized the score at 9-1 off a pass from Lepage with 6:30 to play.
Maryland returns 14 letterwinners and seven starters from last year's Big Ten title squad, including NFHCA All-America honorees sophomore Linnea Gonzales and senior Welma Luus.
The Terrapins will officially open the season on Friday, Aug. 26 with a matchup at St. Joseph's in Philadelphia as part of the Conference Cup. The Terps will take on the defending national champion Syracuse on Sunday, Aug. 28 in Philadelphia as well.
The Terps will take on seven of the other 15 teams from last year's NCAA Tournament and eight teams in the final Penn Monto/NFHCA Division I Coaches poll from last season.
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