OXFORD, Ohio – Head coach Missy Meharg of the eighth-ranked Maryland field hockey team (10-3, 4-0 Big Ten) picked up career win No. 500 Sunday as the Terrapins won at Miami (Ohio), 6-2.
Meharg, who is now in her 28th season as head coach of the Terrapins, is the fourth Division I head coach to reach the mark. In her tenure as head coach, she’s led Maryland to seven NCAA titles, 16 Final Fours, 20 conference championships, and has been named NFHCA National Coach of the Year an unprecedented nine times. Her career record is 500-122-9 (.800).
"It's just really special to reach 500 wins here with [former Terp] Keli Smith Puzo here on the sidelines with Miami and Dina Rizzo as well," Meharg said. "The hype that comes with the opportunity of reaching 500 wins made me reflect after the game. We played so smart and that's Maryland hockey. The tactics were very well followed by this team. I couldn't be more privileged to have 500 wins with a team that responds so well to coaching."
"Lein Holsboer was player of the game in the center midfield. She scored a really good field goal and we've been trying to get her to pull the trigger. She gets into scoring position so frequently and she really had a beautiful shot."
Sunday’s win over the Redhawks (7-6), is the Terrapins’ eighth straight victory. Five Terps scored, and fifth-year senior Welma Luus scored twice.
Senior Sarah Sprink opened the scoring when she finished off a penalty corner in the ninth minute. Four minutes later, freshman Linnea Gonzales made it a two-goal lead for Maryland, who scored off of Emma Rissinger’s rebounded shot.
Luus scored her first of the day off of a penalty corner just before halftime to make it a 3-0 lead at the break. Luus struck again with 22 minutes to play when she tipped in a shot to make put the Terrapins up 4-0.
Less than three minutes later, sophomore Lein Holsboer scored to give Maryland the 5-0 advantage.
After they called timeout, the Redhawks got on the board with 13 minutes to play when Estel Roig scored off of a penalty corner. With nine minutes to go, they added their second score off of a penalty stroke made by Bea Dechant.
Junior Courtney Deena added Maryland’s sixth and final goal when she deflected in a pass from Sprink with 14 seconds to play.
Maryland took 20 shots to the Redhawks’ 12. Freshman goalkeeper Sarah Holliday made three saves in her 65 minutes in goal. Senior Jill Genovese made two saves.
Maryland is ranked No. 8 in the latest Penn Monto/NFHCA Division I Coaches Poll, released Sept. 29.
DEFLECTIONS
Senior Anna Dessoye has 49 assists in her career and just five Terrapins in program history have reached the 50-assist mark...Maryland is now 2-0 all-time vs. the Redhawks...Twelve Terrapins have combined to score 49 goals this season...This is Maryland's seventh game this season with three or more scorers.
