On Friday, The Plex will host No. 7 Maryland field hockey’s first conference game of the season against No. 13 Rutgers.
The Terps fell two spots in the most recent National Field Hockey Coaches Association poll following a 1-1 weekend at the Terrapin Invitational. The two teams to jump Maryland in seeding — Iowa and Ohio State — are conference opponents scheduled to host the Terps over the next month.
Every win in conference play is incredibly important, as seeding in the Big Ten Tournament only takes into consideration conference wins. And in such a talented conference, the value of each win increases. Six of Maryland’s eight conference foes are ranked. With only one game on the docket this week, the Terps will look to make their time well-deserved.
Friday’s game will begin at 5 p.m. and stream on Big Ten Plus.
Rutgers (3-2, 0-0 ACC)
2023 record: 16-4 (6-2 Big Ten)
The Scarlet Knights enter their 13th season under head coach Meredith Civico, who led Rutgers to the university’s first-ever Big Ten title in any sport with a 2021 Big Ten Tournament win. Civico has led Rutgers to three NCAA tournament appearances since 2018. Prior to that year, the Scarlet Knights had only been to two national tournaments.
In 2024, Rutgers slid from No. 9 in the NFHCA preseason poll down to No. 13 following losses to No. 14 UConn and No. 10 Saint Joseph’s. The Scarlet Knights have won all their games this year against unranked teams, but Friday marks the start of a four-game stretch against ranked opponents.
Players to know
Puck Winter, redshirt junior back, No. 21 — Winter was named Big Ten co-Freshman of the Year in 2022 and followed that up with a stellar sophomore season that saw her named an NFHCA second-team All-American and Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year. This year, Winter has maintained her excellent form while playing every minute for Rutgers, as she leads the NCAA with three defensive saves.
Guillermina Causarano, senior forward/midfielder, No. 25 — The Argentinean has displayed versatility for the Scarlet Knights, spending time at both forward and midfielder across her career. No matter where she plays, however, the three-year Rutgers captain has the potential to produce moments of quality. She leads her team with five goals and three assists in five games this year, and she scored a hat trick last time out.
Strength
Shot production: The Scarlet Knights average 16.4 shots and 9.6 shots on goal per game, figures that each rank third in the Big Ten. Rutgers not only creates chances, though, it puts them away; their three goals per game are tied for 13th in the nation.
Weakness
Fourth-quarter defending: Three of the six goals Rutgers has allowed this season have come in the fourth quarter, including the deciding goals in both losses. The Terps should take some comfort in knowing the game is truly not over until the final horn blows.
Three things to know
1. Revenge against Rutgers. In the two teams’ matchup last year in Piscataway, N.J., Maryland lost a backbreaking shootout which saw stars Hope Rose, Margot Lawn and Nathalie Fiechter all miss consecutive shots. This time around, the Terps will be doing everything in their power to keep the game from heading to extra periods.
2. Terps’ shell tough to break. Through six games this season, Maryland has allowed just 17 shots on goal, 13 of which have been turned away by goalkeeper Alyssa Klebasko. With Rutgers’ quality in chance creation, it will be fascinating to see which side will prevail in the battle in front of the Terps’ net.
3. Homecoming for Civico. While she is the longtime head coach at Rutgers, Civico was once a player under head coach Missy Meharg’s tutelage, spending three seasons at Maryland. In a beautiful ending, Civico’s collegiate career culminated with the Terps as conference and national champions.
