No. 7 Maryland Terrapins (4-2, 0-0 B1G) vs. No.13 Rutgers (3-2, 0-0 B1G)
September 20, 2024
Maryland Field Hockey & Lacrosse Complex
5:00 PM ET
B1G+
COLLEGE PARK, MD - No. 7 Maryland Terrapins returns to action on Friday for their Big Ten conference opener hosting the Rutgers Scarlet Knights in College Park. The No. 7-ranked Terps will face the No. 13-ranked Rutgers Scarlet Knights at 5 p.m. on Friday.
Parking:
Fans planning to attend the Rutgers vs. Maryland game Friday can pay to park in lot XV1 which is right across the street from the field hockey complex or pay to park on the top level of Regents Drive Garage. Additionally, after 4:00 p.m. fans can park for free in lot 11B and 9B. Please be aware of new traffic patterns around campus.
Click
here for campus parking map.
matchup preview
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No. 13 Rutgers is coming into College Park after starting the season 3-2. Last week, Rutgers dominated Miami of Ohio 6-1 at home. Captain Guillermina Causarno led the way for the Scarlet Knights with a career-high seven points, recording the second hat trick of her career and adding an assist to her three goals. The six goals for RU were a season-high and the most for the Scarlet Knights since scoring six against Villanova early last season (Sept. 8, 2023).
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The 2024 Scarlet Knights return 79% of the team's goal-scoring from last season. Rutgers had a program record six student-athletes named All-Region last year, and five of those return to Piscataway for this upcoming season.
- On the offensive side, captain Guillermina Causarano leads the Scarlet Knights with 13 points and five goals. Defensively, Rutgers is led by 2023 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year & All-Big Ten First Team Puck Winter. Winter currently leads the conference with three defensive saves. Last season, Winter held the nation's lead with 12 defensive saves.
- 2023 Second Team All-Region Sophia Howard will return in the cage for the Scarlet Knights coming off a career-best 2023 in which she posted career-best 1.25 goals-against-average and 0.752 save percentage. This season, Howard is fifth in the Big Ten with a 1.23 goals-against-average.
- Last season, Rutgers won 16 games and made the NCAA Tournament for the third time in the past six seasons. Rutgers defeated eight ranked teams during the year and began the year with a 15-0 start.
- Maryland is 36-5-1 all-time against Rutgers. The Terps defeated the Scarlet Knights 2-1 in their last matchup in the Big Ten Tournament.
No. 7 Maryland will head into Big Ten conference play with a 4-2 record and two ranked wins.
Last week's recap
- No. 7 Maryland coming off a 1-1 weekend in College Park.
- On Friday, Maryland fell to No. 3 Virginia, 1-0, in a hard-fought battle against one of the best teams in the country.
- On Sunday, Maryland dominated Lock Haven, winning 8-1 on Sunday to conclude the Terrapin Invitational.
- Senior captain 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 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.
- Sophomore goalkeeper Alyssa Klebasko recorded two saves before Paige Kieft took over in the fourth quarter. Maryland dominated Lock Haven in shots (25-4), shots on goal (21-3) and penalty corners (12-3).
Sophomore
Leah Horwitz scored her first career game against Lock Haven on Sunday.
A balanced attack
- This season, the Terps have showcased a diverse offensive arsenal, with 11 different players finding the back of the net.
- Maryland is tied with No. 5 Ohio State for the most unique goal scorers in the conference.
- Last season, Maryland ended the season with 10 different goal scorers.
- Leading the charge this season is a mix of veteran players and newcomers.
- Senior captain Kylee Niswonger leads the team with 6 points after scoring her first career hat trick on Sunday against Lock Haven.
- Transfers Alina Gerke and Fleur Knopert have made an immediate impact to the team. Knopert is second on the team in points with five on two goals and an assist. Gerke scored her first goal as a Terp this past Sunday against Lock Haven.
- Freshman Ellie Goldstein and Ella Gaitan have also added youthful energy to an already potent attack. Both freshmen have recorded one goal each.
Freshman
Ellie Goldstein was a 2022 Max Field Hockey Top 50 Player for the 2024 class.
Klebasko's cage
celebrating 50 years of excellence
- This year, Maryland will be celebrating 50 years of the historic field hockey program.
- On opening night, Maryland honored 50 years by hosting alumni and celebrated each national championship team at halftime.
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Under Hall of Fame coaches Sue Tyler and Missy Meharg the Terps have epitomize the word dominance in field hockey.
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With eight NCAA titles, Maryland is third most among all Division 1 schools.
- The Terps have reached the Final Four a historic 21 times and have an all-time winning percentage above 75 percent.
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Maryland currently has the longest active streak of NCAA tournament appearances, with 28 consecutive bids.
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Maryland is just two wins away from 800 program wins.
On opening night, Maryland celebrated 50 years of field hockey by hosting alumni from each decade.
Championship coaching
- Missy Meharg returns for her 37th 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 lead the Terps to seven national titles, including five in seven years,12 conference tournament crowns,15 conference regular season titles and 19 appearances in the NCAA Semifinals round, including 12 in the NCAA Finals.
- She is supported by associate head coach Scott Tupper (fourth season), assistant coach Kasey Tapman Asper (fourth season) and goalie specialist Jenny Rizzo (first season).
