COLLEGE PARK, MD – No. 5 Maryland dominated Lock Haven, winning 8-1 on Sunday to conclude the Terrapin Invitational at the Maryland Field Hockey and Lacrosse Complex.
Kylee Niswonger scored a hat trick in the game, becoming the first Terp to score three goals in a game since Hope Rose against Miami of Ohio on Sept. 8, 2023.
Maryland's (4-2) eight goals were a season-high and the most since scoring 11 in an 11-0 win over Georgetown on Oct. 11, 2022. Four out of Maryland's six goal-scorers achieved their first career goals as Terps.
Niswonger scored in the third minute off of a Fleur Knopert assist. Niswonger's first goal of the season equalized Lock Haven's early score. The assist was Knopert's first as a Terp after transferring from Ball State.
Carly Hynd scored her first career goal in the sixth minute, continuing Maryland's offensive attack in the first quarter.
Knopert added Maryland's third goal in the 31st minute to initiate an explosive third quarter. Niswonger followed with her second score of the game in the 34th minute, assisted by Josie Hollamon.
Alina Gerke and Ellie Goldstein tacked on the fifth and sixth goals for the Terps in the third quarter. Both scored their first career goals as Terps.
Leah Horwitz added a goal in the 52nd minute, also her first career goal with Maryland.
Niswonger netted her third goal of the game in the final seconds of the fourth quarter. The senior leads the team with three goals scored.
It was also Niswonger's first career multi-goal performance.
Sophomore goalkeeper Alyssa Klebasko recorded two saves before
Paige Kieft took over in the fourth quarter. Through six games, Klebasko has 15 saves. Maryland dominated Lock Haven (1-5) in shots (25-4), shots on goal (21-3) and penalty corners (12-3).
Coach Meharg's Take
- "From a coach's standpoint, first class really," Meharg said. "Coachability, they bought in. We're seeing the things we're working on in training happen in the matches. So we're really pleased."
Niswonger's Take
- "I'm just really excited," Niswonger said. "It was all because of my teammates, they were feeding me the ball. So I couldn't ask for a better day. We have the skill, coming out of anywhere on the field. It is really nice to see that we can just throw a ball in and someone's going to be there and have a ton of grit and heart and get a touch on it."
Breaking Down The Action
- Alyssa Klebasko and the Terps defense cut off an early Lock Haven penalty corner, but the Bald Eagles tipped in a score off a second penalty corner.
- Niswonger quickly equalized, delivering a strike off of Knopert's pass from the corner.
- Maryland kept the offensive pressure dialed up, notching a penalty corner and two shots on the following few possessions.
- Carly Hynd chipped in a goal over the goalkeeper's stick to put the Terps ahead 2-1.
- Klebasko made a decisive block at the end of the first quarter to maintain Maryland's advantage.
- Maryland couldn't convert on three penalty corner opportunities in the second quarter, holding the score at 2-1 at the half.
- Fleur Knopert opened the second half with a score, tapping in the ball off of a deflection.
- Niswonger knocked one in following Maryland's sixth penalty corner, upping the score to 4-1.
- Alina Gerke capitalized on another Terps penalty corner, rolling one past the Lock Haven defense.
- Ellie Goldstein poked in the ball for a score after it bounced off the goalkeeper's foot. The score was 6-1 going into the fourth quarter.
- Leah Horwtiz snuck in another goal amidst a busy circle.
- Niswonger netted her third goal of the day in the final seconds of the game.
Series Success
- Maryland leads Lock Haven, 5-2, in all-time matchups. The Terps are 3-0 at home against the Bald Eagles.
- Maryland claimed the 5-0 advantage in their last matchup in 2008.
Notable Numbers
- 1: Kylee Niswonger recorded her first career multi-goal game.
- 1: Carly Hynd, Alina Gerke, Ellie Goldstein and Leah Horwtiz scored their first career goals as Terps.
- 1: Fleur Knopert recorded her first career assist as a Terp.
- 2: Knopert scored her second goal of the season.
- 4: Niswonger scored her fourth career goal in the match.
- 3: The Terps improved to 3-0 against the Eagles at home.
- 3: Niswonger scored three goals, the first hat trick since Hope Rose against Miami of Ohio in 2023.
- 6: Six different Terps scored goals in the contest.
- 7: Maryland scored a season-high seven goals in the match.
Up Next
- Maryland opens Big Ten conference play next weekend against Rutgers. The Terps will face the Scarlet Knights on Friday at 5 p.m. at the Maryland Field Hockey and Lacrosse Complex. The game will be streamed live on Big Ten Plus.
