No. 3 Maryland field hockey vs. No. 12 Harvard preview

No. 3 Maryland area hockey will host No. 12 Harvard within the twenty sixth annual Terrapin Invitational on the Discipline Hockey and Lacrosse Advanced on Friday at 5 p.m. on BTN Plus.

The Terps (4-0) return dwelling for a ranked matchup after sweeping Boston School and Duke within the Large Ten/ACC Cup. Maryland’s 10-3 scoring margin in these two video games was pivotal en path to its finest begin since 2018. With one win already secured within the interconference event, Maryland exploded with seven targets in its overwhelming 7-2 victory over Duke. Head coach Missy Meharg’s membership has performed excellent protection, holding opponents to 4 whole targets.

Harvard (1-1) involves School Park following a 2-0 dwelling loss to No. 15 Connecticut. The Crimson tried eight photographs within the fourth quarter however had been unable to transform them into factors. Of their season opener, freshman defender Bronte-Might Brough’s time beyond regulation aim was sufficient to earn a 1-0 victory over Miami (Ohio).

The invitational will probably be held Sept. 9/11 with American, Harvard and New Hampshire.

Maryland is an unblemished 3-0 versus Harvard all-time, successful its final matchup, 3-1, on Sept. 9, 2018. That earlier assembly was part of a 13-0 begin to a season that ended within the Ultimate 4.

Now let’s have a look at the Harvard Crimson.

Harvard Crimson (1-1)

2021 document: 17-2 (7-0 Ivy League)

Head coach Tjerk Van Herwaarden returns for his eleventh season main the Crimson. Van Herwaarden has guided Harvard to a 102-55 (44-19) document in his profession with the Ivy League program. He additionally has gained three Ivy League championships and made an look within the Ultimate 4 final season.

The Crimson set program data in 2018 with 14 consecutive victories and a No. 6 nationwide rating. 9 members of that crew acquired All-Ivy League honors.

Final season, Van Herwaarden led Harvard to a record-setting 17-2 season that included an ideal 7-0 document in convention play. The Crimson ended their season by capturing this system’s sixth Ivy League title. The unblemished convention slate marks the second time Van Herwaarden has completed with an ideal convention document for Harvard.

The three-time Ivy League Coach of the 12 months gained 5 championships throughout his tenure on the Maryland teaching workers from 2005-12. He served as an assistant coach in 2005 and was named the crew’s technical director/coach in 2007.

Below his management, Harvard has been an annual contender for championships in November.

Gamers to know

Mazarine Broze, junior defender, No. 5 — Broze is an ultra-quick defender with the power to generate offense for the Crimson. Final season, she recorded a career-best 16 factors to associate with three targets. She has logged over 100 minutes by two video games this season. The Belgium native has gotten off to a sluggish begin by two video games however has the potential to interrupt by at any second.

Bronte-Might Brough, freshman defender, No. 8 — Brough scored the lone aim in time beyond regulation of Harvard’s 1-0 victory over Miami (Ohio) on Sept. 2. The previous England U21 Junior World Cup member brings a wealth of expertise to a perennial risk within the Ivy League. She leads the Crimson in photographs with 9, whereas being tied for photographs on targets with two. Brough has been Harvard’s main supply of offense and can look to proceed figuring out scoring alternatives.

Ellie Shahbo, senior goalkeeper, No. 1 — The Second Group NFHCA All-American was seventh within the Ivy League with 52 saves final season. By two video games, Shahbo has recorded six saves and a 75% save share. She additionally recorded a 15-2 document final season whereas pitching 10 shutouts, main the nation with a 0.44 goals-against common and an .860 save share. With Shahbo guarding the online, Harvard is ready to shun opposing gamers from scoring alternatives.

Energy

Protection. Harvard’s protection performs cohesively, because it swarms across the area hoping to stifle opponents’ offenses. With Shahbo and firm, the Crimson have proven the potential to suffocate passing lanes and drive a myriad of turnovers. The Ivy League squad has athletes on each degree hoping to drive turnovers to jumpstart their offense.

Weak spot

Scoring. The Crimson averaged 0.50 targets per recreation and had been just lately shutout of their 2-0 loss to Connecticut. Many individuals across the sport consider that there’s a rising variety of applications that may rating at an elite degree and fixing their scoring woes is an space of concern for Harvard. It’s important to determine methods to transform photographs into targets.

Three issues to look at

1. Can Maryland begin the Terrapin Invitational with a sizzling begin? On Sept. 9, the Terps will host Harvard within the first of two video games on the Terrapin Invitational. Maryland swept the event final season with victories over Massachusetts and California. The Terps will look to complete their first 5 video games with an undefeated document.

2. Will Hope Rose’s prolific sophomore marketing campaign proceed? Rose was a extremely sought-after prospect within the class of 2021, and he or she rapidly confirmed why she’s going to be an element within the Large Ten for years to return. The sophomore ahead has already registered 4 targets and figures to be amongst the most effective gamers within the convention. She recorded two targets in every of Maryland’s victories within the Large Ten/ACC Cup and can look to construct on that successful efficiency. Rose is an aggressive participant all the time looking for to stress the opponent’s cage.

3. Will the Terps’ protection proceed to dominate? Maryland is an ideal 4-0, and it owes its document to a component they don’t seem to be historically recognized for. The Terps’ offense has sometimes been their driving drive in years previous, however this yr they’ve been relying closely on their protection to shut out video games. Maryland’s protection is led by junior defender Rayne Wright and graduate goalkeeper Christina Calandra, who’re continuously speaking and stifling opponents from firing photographs on the cage. Maryland’s offense exploded to the tune of seven targets in its latest victory over Duke, however its excellent protection negated the sport from ever being in hassle.