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University of Maryland Athletics

Riley Donnelly
0
VA VA (15-2(7-1))
2
Winner Maryland UMD (11-6(3-3))
VA VA
(15-2(7-1))
0
Final
2
Maryland UMD
(11-6(3-3))
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
VA VA 0 0 0 0 0
Maryland UMD 1 1 0 0 2

Game Recap: Field Hockey |

No. 2 Terps Shutout No. 5 Virginia, 2-0, In Regular Season Home Finale

COLLEGE PARK, MD -- A pair of first half goals powered the No. 2 Terps (15-2) to their third top-five victory of the season, this one coming in a 2-0 win over No. 5 Virginia (11-6). 

Riley Donnelly and Hope Rose each scored once in the opening 14 minutes of action and the Terp defense and goalkeeper Christina Calandra did the rest en route to the dominant victory.

With the win, the Terps have now won six games against top-15 opponents. They also finished a perfect 10-0 at home at the Field Hockey & Women's Lacrosse Stadium.

Hope Rose made her first start since Sept. 25 against Michigan State. Rose was sidelined for almost a month with an injury and made her first appearance on Friday against Penn State where she came off the bench. Rose, who was the Terps' leading goal-scorer before she went out, scored her first goal since returning to play. 

Coach Missy Meharg's Takes

"Outstanding," Meharg said of the team's defense. "They're on the front foot, they're so aggressive. They were quick to change girls and intercept and get under the aerial balls. This is how we can play defense and this is how we have been playing defense. I'm just happy with the group that we were able to practice it and do it against a super attacking team that never really generated any sustained attack."

"We expect to win here," she said of the team's undefeated home schedule. "We expect to win everywhere, but there's a feeling here. It's home. We call it, 'Inside the Shell' and we love being inside the Shell." 

Player's Perspectives

"It felt great," Calandra said of her outing in goal. "We always talk about staying ready so you don't have to get ready and that's what I've been doing at practice over the past couple of weeks...I was just happy I could step up to the plate and help my team out." 

"She definitely brings a lot of energy, a lot of speed for the forward line," Donnelly said of having Rose back in the lineup. "She's just a crafty and skilled attacker so it's great to have her back out there with us."

Breaking Down The Action
  • Donnelly's hard-struck penalty corner goal put the Terps on top first with just over a minute left in the first quarter. 
  • Maryland doubled its lead just a few minutes into the second stanza. The Terps took advantage of a miscommunication on a Cavalier penalty corner and pushed the ball up the field as Belle Bressler made a beautiful crossing path to find Rose for the score. 
  • Christina Calandra notched a trio of saves in the first half to keep the Terps' lead at 2-0. 
  • The Maryland defense continued to dominate in the second half and the Cavaliers could never establish any real offensive rhythm as a result. 

Notable Numbers
  • 3: Maryland now has three top-five wins this season: No. 3 Iowa, No. 2 Northwestern and No. 5 Virginia 
  • 4: Four of Bressler's five assists on the season have come on goals by Rose. 
  • 6: Six of Maryland's seven shots today were put on goal. 
  • 10: With the win today, the Terps completed a spotless 10-0 home regular season slate. This was the first time they accomplished this feat since the 2019 season. 

Series History
  • The Terps moved to 45-22-2 all-time against the Cavaliers, including 19-8-1 in College Park.

Up Next
  • The Terps will wrap up regular season play on Sunday on the road at UCONN at 1 pm. Fans can catch the action on FloSports.
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