COLLEGE PARK, Md. – Head field hockey coach Missy Meharg has named redshirt senior Marissa Cutry team captain for the 2017 season. Cutry enters her fifth year as a member of the field hockey program after redshirting her true freshman season.
“This year we worked with a team building program that identified leadership,” said Meharg. “We talked a lot about understanding the roles of leadership influencing other people. With the support of this leadership program and our coaching staff we named Marissa our captain. She represents everything that we stand for, and all of her leadership qualities on and off the field will help make our team better.”
The Medford, N.J. native has appeared in 38 career games on the defensive side of the ball for the Terps, and has helped Maryland clinch three consecutive Big Ten Regular Season Titles in addition to the 2015 B1G Tournament Championship. Cutry is a three-time Big Ten All-Academic selection, and was named to the 2016 NFHCA National Academic Squad.
With preseason in full swing, Cutry and the rest of the Terrapin squad have been hard at work preparing for the 2017 campaign. Maryland hit the road for a pair of exhibition matches against regional opponents last week, beating Temple 7-1 before playing to a 1-1 draw against defending NCAA Champions Delaware.
“Temple is a super fiery team, very aggressive and gritty. It was a great opportunity to play them, and we were pleased as a coaching staff to get seven points on the board. Against Delaware, it was an opportunity to play the reigning National Champions, and it definitely showed us what we need to work on. So now our focus shifts to our season opener against St. Joe's.”
Meharg has been impressed with the leadership and level of play of her veteran group, including seniors Lein Holsboer and Carrie Hanks and junior Linnea Gonzales. All three upperclassmen were named Big Ten Players to Watch on Monday, and will again be staples for Meharg as she enters her 30th season at the helm for the Terps.
Maryland's young players are also in line for major roles this season, with freshmen Brooke DeBerdine, Hannah Bond, Kyler Greenwalt and Sophie Giezeman all making an early impact in the preseason. Meharg has been impressed with the play of sophomore Madison Maguire since the start of practice, who has emerged as a dominant force as a scoring forward while providing energy on the press.
Meharg and her staff have also put an emphasis on positional goal setting, with both the offensive and defensive units setting their sights on specific objectives this year.
"With Katie Bam at the helm of the attacking unit and Marvin Bam and Stef Fee with the defensive unit the Terps are growing in every training session. Our high fitness, talent base and playing philosophy will be exciting for the players, media and fans"
The Terps will kick off the season this Friday, August 25 with a tour at the Under Armour headquarters in Baltimore, Md. led by Vice President of Culture Amy Larkin. The squad will open their 2017 season on Sunday, August 27 when the team hosts Saint Joseph's at the Field Hockey and Lacrosse Complex at 2:00 pm.
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