Maryland looked right at home in its first road contest of the season, beating Indiana, 3-0, to earn its sixth win of the season and second Big Ten win.
A calm opening five minutes saw Maryland comfortable to let Indiana possess the ball deep in its own half, but the game suddenly sprung into action when Hope Rose called for a review that won a penalty corner.
Rose’s shot off the penalty corner did not trouble freshman goalkeeper Sadie Canelli, but the Terps restarted the game quickly off of the cleared pass and sent the ball into the circle. Both teams scrapped for the ball five yards out from the goal, only for Rose to poke it clear and lift a shot over Canelli’s right shoulder to open the scoring.
The Terps remained in control through the first quarter, possessing the ball and snuffing out anything that came into their half from Indiana. Then, with three minutes remaining in the quarter, the Hoosiers drove down the field. A perfect challenge from Emma DeBerdine won the ball back for Maryland, who took the chance to counter quickly.
The ball found its way to Annemijn Klijnhout, who drove vertically through the Hoosiers midfield and slid the ball to Maci Bradford. Bradord’s diagonal run behind Indiana’s defense left her one-on-one with the goalkeeper. Canelli, stuck in no man’s land, stuck out a leg as Bradford rounded her. The Terp did not fall down, but referees blew for a penalty shot anyways.
Josie Hollamon stepped up to the spot and stared the goalkeeper down. It was a battle of young minds — sophomore against freshman — but Hollamon came out on top, hammering a shot into the right corner of the goal just past Canelli’s outstretched foot.
The second quarter saw the Hoosiers snap to life. Indiana began the quarter with drive, and were nearly rewarded very quickly. A snappy pass into the area by Indiana’s Yip van Wonderen came off Ericka Morris-Adams’ stick straight at Klebasko, who chested the ball down and to the stick of Hoosier senior Maggie Carter. Klebasko snapped right back into action, though, walling off her net and forcing Carter wide and eventually out of bounds.
Aside from that early chance for the Hoosiers, not much happened through the rest of the first half. Maryland maintained solid control for large stretches of this game, keeping Indiana from registering a shot on goal in the half.
It was more of the same from both sides in the second half. Initial intensity from the Hoosiers faded after a few minutes, and the Terps were suddenly gifted a chance to capitalize with Indiana picking up a green card. Just five minutes into the second half, Rose made it three in style.
Klijnhout had the ball deep, quarterbacking the Maryland offense as it attempted to find ground inside the circle. Klijnhout opted for the simple pass, finding Rose sitting on the edge of the circle. Rose took one touch and two steps, peeling off to her left, eyed up the goal, and took a ferocious swing. The shot arced towards the far side of the net, giving Canelli no chance to stop the ball crashing off the side panel and pushing the Terp lead to three.
“We’d been focusing on quick restarts and making sure that they were dynamic… Annemijn [Klijnhout] had a give and go and I saw a shot, and I took it”, Rose said after the game.
With the outcome already clear to those in attendance, the game slowed down considerably in the final 20 minutes. Maryland worked more methodically to dissect the Indiana defense. And while they did not close out the game with another goal, the Terps will undoubtedly walk away pleased, having exuded the control and offensive dominance head coach Missy Meharg had been hoping for following the Northwestern game last weekend.
The Terps were strong on defense too, only allowing three shots on goal — two of which were on a penalty corner in the final minutes. Goalkeeper Alyssa Klebasko made two saves, narrowly keeping the first drive out with her stick before closing down the second and blocking it with her body, for her third shutout of the season and eighth of her career.
All signs are looking positive for the Terps, who will look to build on this momentum at No. 10 Iowa on Sunday at 1:00 p.m.
Three things to know
1. Maryland’s perfect streak continues. With this win, the Terps extend their unbeaten record over Indiana to 12-0. They have won those games by a combiscore of 50-9.
2. Milestone for Hope Rose. Rose’s opening goal today was her third of the season; more importantly, it was the 40th of her career, with the 41st coming just 30 in-game minutes later. Rose has two multi-goal Big Ten games in her career — both have been on the road against Indiana.
3. Defensive dominance for the Terps. Throughout the season, the Terps have asserted themselves defensively. The 53 shots Maryland has faced through nine games is the lowest in the Big Ten, and it is one of five teams in Division I to have more games played than goals conceded.
