Three takeaways from Maryland field hockey’s 6-2 exhibition win over James Madison

Coach Missy Meharg didn’t deal with Thursday’s exhibition sport with James Madison as such. She didn’t need her staff to both.

With only one likelihood to tune up earlier than Maryland discipline Hockey’s season opener in opposition to Drexel at residence subsequent week, Meharg took benefit of the chance the exhibition delivered to get her youthful and largely new staff ready, treating the competition as if the ultimate rating mattered like it’s going to shifting ahead. 

“We’ll use JMU as a sport,” Meharg stated earlier than the sport on Tuesday. “We are going to open with how we would like, we’ll bang at it for 4 quarters. We need to dominate to the minute the whistle blows.” 

Dominant is maybe one of the simplest ways to explain Maryland’s 6-2 victory Thursday evening. The Terps discovered the web early and infrequently within the first quarter with targets from Hope Rose, Danielle Van Rootselaar and Belle Bressler. They added three extra within the second half, with Rose discovering the web for a second time earlier than Emma Deberdine and Leah Crouse did as properly.

Maryland’s protection stifled the James Madison assault early. Splitting time equally at goalie between senior Christina Calandra and sophomore Paige Kieft, coupled with a suffocating protection that not often allowed the Dukes contained in the capturing circle, the Terps gave up simply two scores. 

“We received on the board, we dominated,” Meharg stated. “I feel we fell off our sport after we received three targets up however I feel that’s only a younger staff that’s simply making an attempt to get their connections collectively.” 

Listed below are three takeaways from Maryland’s exhibition win. 

Goalkeeper remains to be undecided 

In its first season since 2018 that Noelle Frost isn’t beginning at goalie, the Terps nonetheless don’t know which of their two goalies will take the reins as the first starter. 

After one week of practices and a scrimmage, Calandra and Kieft cut up alternatives in web. Calandra received the beginning on Thursday earlier than Kieft took over for the second quarter. Calandra was inserted once more to open the third quarter and Kieft performed the fourth.

“They’ll each get a possibility to compete firstly,” Meharg stated Tuesday. “They’re each practising very well. They’re making good saves. They’re as prepared as might be.”

[Missy Meharg earns four-year contract extension with Maryland field hockey]

Collectively, they held James Madison scoreless by way of the primary half. However because the solar set on a fancy present process a demolition that knocked out elements of the power subsequent to the sector, the Terps couldn’t preserve the ball out of the web within the second half.

“Paige had a very tough time, this discipline with out the constructing with the solar goes to be an issue,” Meharg stated, noting that Kieft steadily needed to block the solar together with her pads. 

Calandra confronted the same hurdle when she performed the third quarter, defending a web that faces west. That’s the place she allowed the Dukes’ first purpose earlier than Kieft allowed hers within the fourth. 

“It’s a little bit bit disappointing that the sector is like this till this building is finished,” Meharg stated.  “It’s east-west … it’s a bummer.”

After the sport, the 2 groups took turns practising shootouts, with Calanda and Kieft getting 5 makes an attempt to avoid wasting a shot every. Calandra allowed all 5 pictures to attain whereas Kieft solely let two get by way of.

Calandra, who has sat behind Frost for the previous three seasons, has the benefit of chemistry with the backfield, a element Meharg stated will likely be key in figuring out an eventual No. 1. 

“She’s a fourth yr and that complete class has eight of them collectively,” Meharg stated Tuesday. “For positive there’s that consolation, there’s that friendship.”

For now, Meharg has no timetable for when she’ll title a starter and is ready to proceed to separate time properly into the opening weeks of the common season, one thing she stated she’s finished with goalkeeper competitions previously. 

“I’m unsure after we’ll resolve that,” Meharg stated Tuesday. “They’re very keen on one another, they do tremendous properly supporting one another. I do know every considered one of them would like to be the go-to goalie. We’ll readdress at some juncture.”

[Maryland field hockey releases 2022 schedule]

The newcomers are becoming in

Maryland welcomed two graduate transfers this offseason in Leah Crouse from Duke and Danielle Van Rootselaar from Brown. Meharg was starting to sense that the 2 additions have been shortly settling in with their new teammates by way of per week of practices, and that feeling was confirmed on Thursday. 

Van Rootselaar scored the sport’s second purpose lower than two minutes after Crouse assisted on the primary. Within the fourth quarter, Crouse, who Meharg named the participant of the sport, added a purpose to stretch the Terps’ result in 6-1. 

“[Crouse] was simply ruthless in her working,” Meharg stated. “She will be able to play ahead, she will be able to play midfield. She actually breaks groups. [Van Rootselaar] has to get a little bit extra used to the place she’s enjoying, type of like a free defender. Generally she’s simply unsure how deep, how excessive, how left, how proper that’s.”

Rose, final season’s Huge Ten Freshman of the 12 months, slapped within the shot assisted by Crouse. The purpose was each a have a look at what could possibly be forward of this season and exemplified the connection the newcomers have already got with their teammates.

“They got here in probably not figuring out anyone and have actually stepped it up,” Rose stated. “I’ve seen nothing however exhausting work and dedication to this staff.”

Maryland began quick, identical to Meharg needed

In latest seasons, the Terps haven’t began video games to the usual Meharg would really like. To her, it typically took them too lengthy to “heat in” to a match, and he or she needed that to alter beginning Thursday. 

“That’s one thing we need to keep away from,” Meharg stated Tuesday. “[We want to] get going on the purpose cage instantly, get into the circle.” 

Maryland opened the sport simply as Meharg wished, gaining a 3-0 benefit lower than midway by way of the primary quarter. Rose scored simply over 4 minutes in, Van Rootselaar doubled the lead a minute later and Bressler added a purpose seven minutes in.

“We talked about it, and I’m tremendous proud of that presence,” Meharg stated.