Box Score
California
1
5
#7 Maryland
COLLEGE PARK, Md. – The seventh-ranked Maryland field hockey team (3-2) got offensive production from all over the lineup in a 5-1 win over California (0-4) Saturday in the Terrapin Invitational at the Field Hockey & Lacrosse Complex.
Four Terrapins scored in the team's home opener, including freshmen Kelee Lepage and Sophie Pelzer, who notched their first career goals. Sophomore Linnea Gonzales added two scores in the win.
“This was such a strong performance,” head coach Missy Meharg said. “It's nice to play at home and we've got such a great fan base, coming from the golf tournament last night. It was a great statement to step on the field with all these new players. We were rotating six first-year players.”
Senior Welma Luus wasted no time giving Maryland the early lead. She finished off her own rebound just 89 seconds into the match.
“To get on the board under two minutes in is exciting,” Meharg said. “It's a readiness statement. We've been working a lot on our mindset and Maryland stepped on the field with the proper mindset."
Gonzales made it a two-goal lead for the Terrapins when she banged in her first goal of the year in the 22nd minute. She carried it into the circle and cracked a hard shot into the bottom right corner of the cage.
With under three minutes left in the half, Gonzales struck again off a pass from junior Lein Holsboer to make it a 3-0 lead for Maryland at the break.
California got on the board 58 seconds into the second half when Melina Moore tapped in a loose ball in front of the goal.
Maryland responded 36 seconds later when Lepage scored from the left side of the circle. Freshman Anouk van Asbeck assisted on the score.
Four minutes later, Pelzer scored from the far post off a penalty corner to make it a 5-1 lead for Maryland with 30 minutes to play.
The Terps outshot the Bears, 18-7 and had seven penalty corners to one. Sophomore goalkeeper Sarah Holliday notched three saves in her 50 minutes in goal. Redshirt junior Sarah Bates played 20 minutes in goal.
The Terps are 11-3 in home openers at the Field Hockey & Lacrosse Complex and have outscored their opponents 53-17 in those 14 games.
California will play either American or Fairfield at noon Sunday, and the Terps will play at 2 p.m.
Admission and parking are both free for Sunday's games. Maryland will welcome all Wounded Warriors at Sunday's game. Click here for more on the promotional schedule.
Live Stats for both games 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 moves to 10-0 all-time vs. Cal…The Terps are 148-17 (.897) all-time at the Field Hockey & Lacrosse Complex…Meharg currently holds a record of 512-125-9 (.800) in her 29 years at Maryland…The Terps were tabbed as the No. 7 team in the country in the Penn Monto/Division I Coaches poll released Tuesday…The Terrapins return 14 letterwinners and seven starters from last year's Big Ten title squad, while welcoming 10 freshmen to the roster.
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