A Royal Defense

Maryland field hockey has sky-high expectations in 2025. Head coach Missy Meharg has always lived by the old adage that championships are 90% defense. Because of that, the two most important pieces of her defense — goalkeeper Alyssa Klebasko and center back Josie Hollamon — have always been intertwined by a vision of royalty. 

“I call the center back and the goalkeeper the king and the queen,” Meharg explained. “It’s very much like a chess game because the king can only move in a very limited area, whereas the queen has all the moving ability to protect the king. So, I recruited Klebasko and Hollamon together, so everything that’s happening is going by plan.”

That plan saw Maryland reach a 2-0 record to start a season for the 22nd season since the year 2000 and already with a shutout win under its belt. 

The Terps swept the Conference Cup in College Park last weekend with wins over Stanford and Villanova. In their second win of the season, Hollamon scored and Klebasko recorded her 12th-career shutout, perfectly playing out Meharg’s vision.

Despite the two growing up in different states — Klebasko hails from Odenton, MD and Hollamon’s from Delmar, DE — the two have been playing together for nearly a decade

Club field hockey and national teams brought the two together before Meharg ever could. But once she saw them together, she knew they’d be staples of her program. 

“Alyssa and Josie, I recruited them together since they could play hockey,” Meharg said. “This is the king and the queen and the vision was exactly what’s happening.”

They’re leaders on this year’s squad. Hollamon’s a team captain and Klebasko’s a commander in goal.

“Our relationship needs to be 100% all of the time,” Hollamon said. “We give each other feedback. We can be hard on each other when necessary, but we need to be connected at all times so we can control the game, the tempo, and set the standard for everyone in front of us.”

If they ever do have to push each other in-game, it’s over as soon as the last whistle blows. The two have been roommates since arriving in College Park. With 10 years of friendship already under their belts, their relationship only continues to grow. 

“I think it’s honestly really easy for us to be connected because we’re such good friends off the field, as well,” Klebasko said. “This year, being juniors, we have to have a bigger role and I think our communication is helping all of the younger players.”

The new faces on the team —- one being Hollamon’s younger sister, Jordyn — are benefiting greatly from Hollamon and Klebasko, two athletes whose recognition goes further than collegiate field hockey. Hollamon is a member of the 2025 U.S. Women's National Team and will compete in Santiago, Chile, in December. 

Klebasko, meanwhile, just returned from being a part of the 2025 U.S. U-21 Women's National Team. She competed in the Junior Pan American Games in Asunción, Paraguay.

She’s nearing 30 career wins as the Terps get ready to host the Terrapin Invitational. She’s posted 154 career saves and is yet to allow 20 goals in a season in her career. 

Meharg said Klebasko’s knowledge of the game has increased exponentially during her tenure as a Terp and is glad to see her taking control of the game.

Hollamon, along with being an elite defender, had five goals in 2024 — good for third-most on the team — and scored a pair of them in the Conference Cup to open the season. She led the team in assists with six a season ago while still protecting her king. 

“I know that whenever we give things away, Josie’s typically not on the field,” Meharg said. “I know that their combination is super powerful.”

It’s a relationship that’s somehow still growing after a decade. When asked if they’d reached their maximum chemistry yet, the two shared a laugh.

“I honestly think our chemistry’s still getting better,” Hollamon said. “Especially this year because we’re mature now. You get older and wiser — at least, you hope — and I think our connection gets better every day because of that.”

With age comes responsibility. The two recognize their roles as leaders and players that Meharg eyes to keep things steady and in-control.

“We just try to build everyone up around us,” Klebasko said. “We have such a young backfield and a new backfield. I think Josie, specifically, has done a great job mentoring them. We’re just trying to keep it positive back there because I have all the faith that they can do it.”

Keep It Simple, Turtle (K.I.S.T) is a central theme for the 2025 field hockey squad. Trusting two experienced veterans in the backfield is a key component to the simplicity Meharg strives for in a sport of chaos. 

“With championships, 90% is defense,” Meharg said. “All you have to do is win a game by one goal. We have to keep that in mind and be patient, not get bored and play good, solid defense. I know with those two at the helm, we’ll have that.”