Maryland Set For B1G Title Game Against Northwestern

#3 Maryland (16-4) vs. #1 Northwestern (17-1)

November 5, 2023

Phyllis Ocker Field

12:00 PM

Big Ten Network

ANN ARBOR, MI - Nationally ranked No. 8 Maryland field hockey will face No. 1 Northwestern in the Big Ten Tournament Championship on Sunday, November 5.

The Terps clinched the 3-seed after finishing the conference season 6-2. They opened the Tournament against the 6-seed Iowa, dominating the Hawkeyes in a 2-0 shutout victory. The following day, Maryland forced a 2-1 comeback win over two-seeded Rutgers, with two unanswered fourth quarter goals.

The Terps are seeking their third B1G Tournament title since joining the conference in 2014 and thirteenth tournament title in program history. This is the Terps' first time back in the title game, since winning it in 2018.

series history

Competition with these two programs dates back to 1985. The Terps hold a 19-14 all-time lead over Northwestern. Head coach Missy Meharg has led the Terps to a 19-11 record over the Wildcats.
The Terps are 2-3 against Northwestern in postseason play in program history.
These programs met just over a week ago with Northwestern earning a 5-1 victory over the Terps to secure the Big Ten regular season title.
Maryland has clinched six wins over Northwestern since joining the Big Ten in 2014.

Forward Hope Rose (19)Maryland Field Hockey at Northwestern at Lakeside Field in Evanston, IL on Thursday, Oct. 26, 2023. Mackenzie Miles/Maryland Terrapins

Hope Rose competing at No 1. Northwestern (Oct. 28, 2023)

OuR road to the championship game

No. 8 Maryland finished the regular season 14-4 overall and 6-2 in conference play.
Maryland has outscored its opponents 51-24 this year.
The Terps rank fourth in the Big Ten in goals per game average (2.55) and points per game average (7.05).
Maryland has allowed only four first quarter goals through 20 games and outscored teams 17-4 in the first fifteen minutes. 12 of those 17 goals happened in the first six minutes of each game.
The Terps are 14-2 in games where they score first and 12-1 when they lead at halftime.
Maryland owns a perfect, 7-0, record on Sundays.
Maryland collected eight wins over ranked opponents this season, including six Big Ten games.

Midfielder Hannah Boss (9) Forward Margot Lawn (27) Defender Logan Anderson (24)Maryland Field Hockey B1G Tournament vs. Rutgers at Ocker Field in Ann Arbor, MI on Friday, Nov. 3, 2023. Chris Lyons/ Maryland Athletics

Hannah Boss and Logan Anderson celebrating with Margot Lawn after tying Rutgers in the fourth quarter (Nov. 3, 2023)

our path to a title

With a 6-2 conference record, Maryland clinched the three-seed to open the Big Ten Tournament.
The Terps played six-seeded Iowa in the opening round of the tournament. Maryland advanced to the semifinal after a shutout victory over the Hawkeyes.
The following day, the Terps defeated two-seeded Rutgers, 2-1, securing their spot in the championship game.
Maryland is 14-7 all-time in the Big Ten Tournament and won the 2015 and 2018 Big Ten Tournament titles.
The Terrapins have advanced to the championship round in five out of their 10 years in the league.
Under head coach Missy Meharg, the Terrapins have won 12 conference tournament titles, including 10 when they were in the ACC.

Pre-Game Huddle

B1G Performances

Hope Rose leads the Terps in goals with 13 on the year. She posted the game-winning goal against six-seeded Iowa on Wednesday night. She leads the team in points with 28, from 13 goals and two assists.
Margot Lawn owns a team-high ten assists, including a season-high two assists against Yale. She added her latest against Iowa on Wednesday. She owns the second highest point total at 26, from eight goals and ten assists. Lawn scored the first goal for the Terps against Rutgers on Friday.
Maci Bradford owns the third highest point total with 25, from 10 goals and five assists on the season. She scored a career-best two goals against Princeton in September. Bradford added an assist on the game-winning goal against the Hawkeyes. She earned the game-winning goal in the final minutes of the semifinal on Friday.
Alyssa Klebasko has started a majority of games in goal for the Terps. She earned two consecutive Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors during the final stretch of the regular season. She earned her fourth shutout in the 2-0 victory over Iowa and posted four saves against Rutgers, including two in the final quarter.
Sammy Popper added the second goal of the game against Iowa, adding to her season total of eight goals.
Seven members of Maryland's No. 8 ranked field hockey program received All-Big Ten honors, as announced by the conference on Wednesday. Hope Rose and Rayne Wright earned All-Big Ten First Team. Alyssa Klebasko, Margot Lawn, Sammy Popper and Maura Verleg were named to the All-Big Ten Second Team. Logan Anderson earned the sportsmanship award.
The Terps utilize the depth of their bench as they average 15 players participating per match. 13 players have tallied at least one point on the year, including nine goal scorers.

Goalkeeper Alyssa Klebasko (1) Maryland Field Hockey B1G Tournament vs. Rutgers at Ocker Field in Ann Arbor, MI on Friday, Nov. 3, 2023. Chris Lyons/ Maryland Athletics

Alyssa Klebasko announced as starter against No. 2-seed Rutgers (Nov. 3, 2023)

Best of the Best

Missy Meharg returns for her 36th season as head coach. A nine-time National Coach of the Year recipient, Meharg brings an unprecedented level of consistency and excellence to the Maryland field hockey program.
Meharg became the third coach in Division I history to reach 600 wins in 2021. She is not shy of championships as she has led the Terps to seven national titles, including five in seven years, 12 conference tournament crowns, 15 conference regular season titles and 20 appearances in the NCAA Semifinals round, including 12 in the NCAA Finals.
She is supported by associate head coach Scott Tupper (third season), assistant coach Kasey Tapman Asper (third season) and goalie specialist Natalie Hunter Cyrus (first season).