COLLEGE PARK, Md. – The third-ranked Maryland field hockey team battled from an early one-goal deficit to beat No. 17 Harvard, 3-1, in the 22^nd annual Terrapin Invitational Sunday afternoon at the Field Hockey & Lacrosse Complex.
 
Maryland played through downpours to pick up its seventh straight win and fourth consecutive over a top 20 opponent. At 7-0, the Terrapins are off to their best start since 2013, when they started the season 15-0.
 
"I'm just so impressed with our players and their grit," head coach Missy Meharg said. "The weather was challenging. It was nothing for them. Harvard is a really, really good team. There was a lot of energy out there. I'm just super pleased with the amount of pressure we had in a one goal game and found a way to go two goals up. We are also pleased with having more players to bring into the midfield. Bibi Donraadt started in the midfield and gave us great minutes on both sides and that helps gives us the depth we need."
 
The Crimson (3-0) struck first when Hannah Pearce scored off a penalty corner 17:47 into the match.
 
Six minutes later, Maryland was awarded a penalty stroke. Sophomore Bodil Keus lined up and Harvard goalkeeper Ellie Shahbo knocked it away to hold onto the Crimson's advantage.
 
Senior tri-captain Linnea Gonzales tied it up just over six minutes after the saved stroke when she banged in a rocket shot off a penalty corner with five minutes remaining in the half. The teams stayed tied at the break.
 
Seven minutes into the second period, the Terrapins were awarded a second penalty stroke after a penalty corner. This time, senior Sabrina Rhodes buried it to give Maryland its first lead at 2-1 with 27:42 left to play.
 
Junior Madison Maguire and sophomore Brooke DeBerdine combined for Maryland's third and final goal. DeBerdine drew the Harvard keeper out past the near post, then passed to Maguire for the open net score. Maryland took a 3-1 lead with 9:09 remaining.
 
The Terrapins took 15 shots to the Crimson's seven and had 10 penalty corners to two. Senior goalkeeper Sarah Holliday made a save.
 
Holliday was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week Tuesday after she made 10 saves to preserve the Terps' victory over then-No. 3 Duke last weekend. This marked 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.
 
Next, the Terps will open Big Ten play Saturday at Michigan State (3-4) at 1 p.m. The Terps-Spartans matchup will be streamed around the world on BTN Plus and can be seen on the BTN2Go app and BTN2Go.com. Fans outside the U.S. can watch here.
 
DEFLECTIONS… Maryland is 3-0 all-time vs. Harvard…the Terps are now 171-20 (.895) all-time at the Complex… head coach Missy Meharg is now 550-135-9 (.799) in her career… Maryland is now 211-69 (.754) against ranked teams since 1999.