COLLEGE PARK, Md. – The third-ranked Maryland field hockey team used its offensive balance to top 12^th-ranked Delaware, 5-3, Saturday in the first game of the Terrapin Invitational at the Field Hockey & Lacrosse Complex.
 
Five different Terrapins scored to help Maryland (6-0) win its sixth straight and third straight match over a ranked team. At 6-0, Maryland is off to its best start since 2013.
 
"It's always exciting," head coach Missy Meharg said. "We haven't played Delaware in a number of years. We've certainly watched them as [ head coach] Rolf [van de Kerkhof] has brought that program back to its level. There's a lot of very, very experienced Dutch players on their team, so it's about playing a culture of frenzy. At times, things were a bit chaotic and I couldn't be more proud of our players for handling things and making organization from chaos."
 
The Terrapins wasted no time getting on the board as junior tri-captain Kelee Lepage notched the first goal just 3:40 into the game. After a penalty corner, Lepage scooped up a pass from sophomore Kyler Greenwalt for the early 1-0 lead.
 
Just over eight minutes later, freshman Bibi Donraadt cracked a hard shot from the right side of the circle off a pass from Lepage, to make it 2-0 just 11:53 into the match.
 
Senior tri-captain Linnea Gonzales created her own opportunity in the 20^th minute when she brought the ball into the left side of the circle and cracked a backhanded shot for the score at 19:45.
 
Delaware got on the board with 9:34 left in the first half when Lotte de Koning poked one past the line. Maryland led 3-1 at halftime.
 
Senior Sabrina Rhodes scored the Terps' fourth goal when she finished off a fastbreak run by senior tri-captain Julie Duncan 11 minutes into the second half.
 
Just over three minutes later, the Blue Hens picked up two quick goals to cut the Terps' lead to one. Delaware's Femke Strien added the Blue Hens' second goal with a hard shot from the left side with 21:10 to play. A minute and 34 seconds later, Delaware was awarded a penalty shot after a corner, which de Koning finished to make the score 4-3.
 
Sophomore Bodil Keus gave Maryland it's insurance goal when she banged in a hard shot off a penalty corner with 12 minutes to play. Lepage and junior Madison Maguire set up the play.
 
The Terrapins took 17 shots to the Blue Hens' 11 and had four corners to Delaware's five.
 
Junior goalkeeper Noelle Frost made three saves.
 
The Terps are hosting No. 12 Delaware (2-3), No. 17 Harvard (2-0) and American (3-1) in the Terrapin Invitational this weekend. Maryland plays Harvard at 1:30 p.m. Sunday, then American takes on Delaware after.
 
Admission and parking will be free for both games.
 
Live stats will be available. Fans can also follow the Terps' Twitter feed for live updates here.
 
Senior goalkeeper Sarah Holliday was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week Tuesday after she made 10 saves to preserve the Terps' victory over the Blue Devils. This is her second career weekly honor.
 
Maryland was tabbed as the No. 3 team in the country in the latest Penn Monto/Division I Coaches poll released Tuesday. The Terrapins have been ranked in the top 10 for 199 weeks since 1999.
 
After this weekend's games, the Terps will open Big Ten play on Sept. 15 at Michigan State (3-3).
 
DEFLECTIONS… Maryland is 25-10-2 all-time vs. Delaware and is 7-0 against the Blue Hens at the Field Hockey & Lacrosse Complex…the Terps are now 170-20 (.895) all-time at the Complex… head coach Missy Meharg is now 549-135-9 (.799) in her career…two Terrapins, Sophie Giezeman and Sabrina Rhodes both have sisters on the Delaware squad…Maryland is now 210-69 (.753) against ranked teams since 1999.