COLLEGE PARK, Md.  – The second-ranked Maryland field hockey team (15-2, 7-1 B1G) won its fifth Big Ten in six years Friday night. The Terrapins beat Michigan State, 5-1, behind a hat trick from senior Madison Maguire on Senior Night.
 
With the win, the Terrapins finished 7-1 in Big Ten play. They clinched the No. 1 seed and first round bye in the Big Ten Tournament Nov. 7-10 at Penn State. Maryland has won 26 conference titles, including the 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018 and 2019 titles since joining the Big Ten.
 
"We played a lot of players, we played an exceptional brand of hockey," head coach Missy Meharg said. "I would've liked to have gotten on the board a little bit earlier with some of the shot opportunities we had. But boy, the third quarter and the fourth quarter were just a super brand of hockey and the outcome put us in first place.
 
"Tonight, I think Madison played the best game off-ball and her counter defense worked great. When she plays like that, the rest of the front six just respond off of her. She was the player of the game and I hope she can keep playing like that for the next three weeks."
 
Maguire scored her first of the game just 6:06 into the match when she sent a rocket shot into the bottom of the cage from the left side. Sophomore Bibi Donraadt assisted on the play.
 
Emma DeBerdine, the current Big Ten Freshman of the Week, made it a two-goal lead for the Terps when she buried a shot with 2:24 left in the second quarter. Her sister, Brooke DeBerdine, took a shot from the right side, which was saved. The ball bounced to Emma on the left side and she was there to send it in. Maryland led 2-0 at halftime.
 
Just 2:17 into the third quarter, Mayv Clune deflected in another shot by Maguire for the score and the three-goal lead.
 
Just over three minutes later, Maguire got her second score when she banged in a shot off a pass from Brooke DeBerdine from the right side. She made it a 4-0 lead for the Terps with 9:46 left in the third quarter.
 
Twenty-two seconds later, the Spartans (6-10, 0-7) got on the board when Aisha Osinga scored off a penalty corner to make it a 4-1 game.
 
Maguire finished her hat trick with a goal in the 54^th minute off a pass from fellow senior Kelee Lepage, who sent the ball into the circle to set up Maguire.
 
The Terps took 27 shots to the Spartans' five and had eight penalty corners to one for Michigan State. Goalkeeper Noelle Frost made two saves.
 
Maryland honored seniors Jen Bleakney, Lizzy Dessoye, Logan Edmondson, Lepage and Maguire prior to Friday's game. In their careers, these special Terrapins have earned a record of 71-17, gone to two Final Fours and made two NCAA Championship game appearances, won three Big Ten regular season titles and the 2018 Big Ten Tournament title. They've earned numerous conference, regional, national and academic honors.
 
Next, the Terrapins will play across town at American (9-4) Tuesday at 3 p.m. at the Eagles' William I Jacobs Recreational Complex in Washington, D.C.
 
For the latest information, follow the Terrapins on Twitter at @terpsfh and on Instagram at @terpsfh. 
 
DEFLECTIONS… Maryland owns the all-time series over Michigan State, 12-0…Maryland has won 13 conference regular season titles… Since joining the Big Ten in 2014, the Terps are 53-9 in conference play, including their 13 Big Ten Tournament games… Maryland is 48-3 in Big Ten games at home…Meharg is 580-140-9 (.802) in her 32 years as head coach.
 

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Head Coach Missy Meharg

On the team's performance:
"I couldn't be happier. We played a lot of players, we played an exceptional brand of hockey. I would've liked to have gotten on the board a little bit earlier with some of the shot opportunities we had. But boy, the third quarter and the fourth quarter were just a super brand of hockey and the outcome put us in first place. I am really proud of our staff and our team. We've got American to play and then we are ready to head onto State College for the tournament."

On Madison Maguire's performance:
"Madison is a basketball player by nature. She understands on-ball and off-ball and all the things to really manipulate and put yourself in the position to score. Tonight, I think Madison played the best game off-ball and her counter defense worked great. When she plays like that, the rest of the front six just respond off of her. She was the player of the game and I hope she can keep playing like that for the next three weeks." 

On preparing for the second half:
"It's all about the front third of the field so you're actually pressing. Then, we changed up some formations and that worked for us. Opening the belly and letting them play into us more to give us more space to counter-attack. I thought that tactic opened up the players' skills better."

On the emotional atmosphere surrounding senior day: 
"Well, I've got three women who coach with me that have all been there with their families on this field. It gives us the opportunity to not let things be distracting because it is a super exciting day….It's a real opportunity to get distracted but you have to learn how to focus on-point and on-demand to change that. It switches on and off and it gives us the opportunity to do that. It was a really nice event and ceremony with all of the families."

On preparing for American:
"I think we have to double transfer the play and come up with the ball in an area of congestion. We have a tendency to go right back at it. We are going to look at coming up with the ball and getting it out again and then go into a bigger space."

On what impressed her from the team:
"I think our flexibility to play a lot of different positions. I like [Brooke] DeBerdine's ability to come into the midfield and really connect the backs and forwards. We've got lots of players that can play lots of variety. I think Riley Donnelly can play anywhere from the screen across the midfield. I was very impressed with all of our players straight on the ball. I thought we were very powerful, we held onto the ball, and forced fouls if we needed to."


Senior Midfielder Madison Maguire

How special the hat trick was for you on your senior day:
"It was really good. I got a lot of good balls in the circle, one from Kelee [LePage], so I pride on my teammates because they got the ball open for me."

On the atmosphere going into senior day:
"Like [Kelee LaPage] said it's just great to be recognized. I think all week we've just been reminiscing on freshman year so it's funny." 

On how important it was to win this game to be at the top of the Big Ten:
"Michigan State is a great team; they come out with a lot of pressure and I think they have grown a lot since we've been in the Big Ten."

On how they are able to ignore the distractions of fans and stay focused during the game: 
"It's just another game. It is senior day and our last regular game on this turf, but we just have to play Maryland field hockey and show Michigan State and the Big Ten how we play and we capitalize on that."

On how they started the second half:
"We try to start each half like it is a new game. We are up two-nothing, but we just treat it like a zero-zero game so we get more goals."

On any interesting moments [Maguire and Lepage] have had during their field hockey journey together:
"I think on the field we just know where each other is going to go. We have played with each other for so long that we know what's going to happen and where we are going to bring the ball."

On if they ever visualized this game coming when they were freshmen:
"It came by too soon, but it is really exciting."

Senior Defender Kelee Lepage

On the atmosphere going into senior day:
"We've just been super pumped all day. Senior Day is an important day to be recognized. Instead of being sad we've just been really happy and grateful for our entire team and the entire day. It's just nice to be recognized and keeping that field energy the entire time."

On how important it was to win this game to be at the top of the Big Ten:
"I guess moving forward [Michigan State] has taught us really good lessons throughout the game. We are just going to use them from here on."

On how they are able to ignore the distractions of fans and stay focused during the game…  
"We work on separating what happens in the locker room and the field, and just staying within the white lines so that we keep that purpose the whole time."

On how they start off the second half of the game:
"We always talk about starting the second half as strong as the first half, if not stronger, just so we keep pushing. I feel like we get better momentum."

On any interesting moments [Madison Maguire and Kelee Lepage] have had during their field hockey journey together:
"We just connect so well. We have had that on-field off-field connection for so long so I think that just helps."