Maryland field hockey took down then-No. 2 Northwestern and No. 3 Iowa — each at the highway — and set a brand new season-high in photographs tried in a 5-1 beatdown of Indiana in its final 3 contests.
The wins got here in numerous ways. Graduate switch and group captain Danielle van Rootselaar scored all 4 of the Terps’ targets, together with each additional time sport winners, in triumphs over the Wildcats and Hawkeyes. Eight other avid gamers logged targets or assists in opposition to the Hoosiers.
The one consistent in all 3 of the victories, then again, is Maryland got here out on best without Hope Rose.
Rose, the group’s chief in targets and assists, has overlooked 3 instantly video games with a decrease frame harm, in accordance to a group spokesperson. The reigning 2nd group All-American and Big Ten freshman of the 12 months was once no longer in uniform for the Terps’ 3 wins, as an alternative carrying a strolling boot at the sideline.
Despite the absence of its maximum impactful participant, Maryland’s offense has persisted to be one of the vital country’s best possible. The Terps took 34 photographs in opposition to Indiana to stay undefeated in Big Ten play. Twenty-three of them have been on objective, translating to constant force on a Hoosiers protection that by no means found a solution.
Maryland ranks 3rd in targets and assists in Division I play this season, scoring a median of three.85 instances with 3.31 helpers consistent with sport. The Terps have scored 9 targets of their 3 video games without Rose with nearly each score being assisted, a charge that strains up with the only they’ve boasted all season.
[Maryland field hockey trounces Indiana, 5-1, remains atop Big Ten standings]
Coach Missy Meharg’s offensive intensity has allowed different forwards and midfielders to step up and fill the outlet left by way of Rose, together with some unfamiliar faces.
Nathalie Fiechter notched her first objective of the season within the win over Indiana and assisted a objective in opposition to Iowa. Margot Lawn scored for the primary time in 5 video games in opposition to the Hoosiers.
Riley Donnelly accumulated her 2nd objective and lend a hand of the 12 months and took a season-high 5 photographs in simply her 3rd get started as she works her long ago from hip and knee accidents.
“Fortunately, we’re very deep,” Meharg mentioned. “We’ve got 13 or 14 really talented players at every level that can come in and play.”
Versatility is a ability Meharg steadily stresses, and it’s a technique that’s allowed her to transfer avid gamers round in accordance with her group’s wishes or if the matchup requires it.
The trainer has been compelled to shift items much more without Rose to anchor the offensive assault. She highlighted Leah Crouse and Donnelly in particular as avid gamers who’ve shuffled round to take over Rose’s function.
Crouse can play at ahead or within the midfield, Meharg mentioned. Donnelly has already been utilized in a myriad of spots, a utilization the trainer will proceed to deploy so long as Rose is out.
“We’ve got the depth to be able to accommodate her situation,” Meharg mentioned.
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Bibi Donraadt, who led the group in targets in 2021, is turning into extra trusted to shoulder probably the most offensive load. The graduate pupil who returned for her 5th season has had her 3 best possible video games of the season by way of stats within the 3 fits without Rose at the field beside her.
Donraadt’s seven photographs taken within the Indiana win was once a season excessive, and her 10 photographs in 3 video games without Rose are her maximum over a three-game stretch all season.
“Without Hope, it’s really been a change for us,” senior midfielder Emma DeBerdine mentioned. “But we’ve had a lot of forwards really step up.”
Maryland’s lately in line to be the highest seed at this 12 months’s Big Ten event with 5 common season video games final. The Terps could also be compelled to dangle on to that No. 1 spot without Rose’s lend a hand.
The sophomore is being evaluated frequently, a group spokesperson mentioned. It’s unclear when the harm befell or what her go back timetable seems like. But with a heightened center of attention on positional versatility whilst the usage of extra of its intensity and depending on veteran shot takers extra closely, Maryland has treated the weight of the loss very easily.