No. 7 Maryland Field Hockey Blanks Saint Joseph’s, 5-0, to Improve to 6-0

COLLEGE PARK, Md. — No. 7 Maryland field hockey continued its perfect start to the 2026 season Sunday afternoon, overwhelming Saint Joseph’s, 5-0, at the Maryland Field Hockey and Lacrosse Complex.

Babs van Hest and Francisca Eschoyez each scored twice as the Terrapins improved to 6-0 for the first time since 2022 and the 15th time in program history. Aida Ierubino added Maryland’s fifth goal, while the Terps’ defense and goalkeeping combination of Alyssa Klebasko and Ryleigh Osborne completed the shutout.

Maryland controlled nearly every important statistical category. The Terps outshot Saint Joseph’s 24-8, put 17 shots on goal and generated 11 penalty corners compared with only one for the Hawks. Maryland has now won all seven meetings against Saint Joseph’s.

Van Hest Wastes No Time

Maryland needed only two minutes and 30 seconds to take control.

Van Hest scored an unassisted goal at the 2:30 mark, immediately putting Saint Joseph’s in a difficult position. It was van Hest’s third goal of the season and gave Maryland the early 1-0 advantage.

The Terps continued applying pressure throughout the opening quarter. Maryland generated four shots and two penalty corners while allowing Saint Joseph’s only one attempt.

Klebasko stopped that attempt late in the quarter, allowing Maryland to carry its 1-0 advantage into the second.

Eschoyez Doubles the Lead

Saint Joseph’s showed more offensive life early in the second quarter and recorded the first three shots of the period. Maryland’s defense weathered the pressure before the Terps went back on the attack.

Van Hest generated another opportunity that forced a save before Ella Fehr put a shot on target in the 23rd minute.

Maryland eventually earned a penalty corner and capitalized.

Eschoyez scored at 25:22 with assists from Maci Bradford and Ella Beach, extending Maryland’s advantage to 2-0. The goal was Eschoyez’s fifth of the season and gave the Terps some breathing room heading toward halftime.

Maryland and Saint Joseph’s each attempted four shots during the second quarter, but the Terps were the only team to convert.

The Terrapins went into halftime ahead 2-0.

Maryland Puts the Game Away in 48 Seconds

If Saint Joseph’s had any thoughts of mounting a second-half comeback, Maryland quickly ended them.

Eschoyez earned a penalty stroke early in the third quarter and converted at 33:32. Her second goal of the afternoon and sixth of the season increased Maryland’s lead to 3-0.

Only 48 seconds later, van Hest struck again.

Ierubino set up van Hest at 34:20 for her second goal of the game and fourth of the season, suddenly making it 4-0.

Two goals in less than a minute effectively ended the competitive portion of the afternoon.

Maryland continued attacking rather than simply protecting the lead. The Terps attempted eight shots during the third quarter while holding Saint Joseph’s to one.

Ierubino Finishes the Scoring

Ierubino had already contributed an assist on van Hest’s second goal when she got into the scoring column herself during the fourth quarter.

The midfielder scored an unassisted goal at 48:25, increasing Maryland’s advantage to 5-0. It was Ierubino’s third goal of the season and completed the scoring.

Maryland remained aggressive throughout the final quarter, attempting another eight shots and putting six on goal. Saint Joseph’s goalkeeper Avianna Wagner prevented the margin from becoming even larger, finishing with a career-high 12 saves.

The Terps finished with 24 total shots and 17 shots on goal.

Eschoyez and Van Hest Lead the Attack

Eschoyez was outstanding throughout the afternoon.

She finished with five shots, four shots on goal and two goals. Her two scores increased her season total to six, giving Maryland a consistent scoring threat as the Terps prepare to enter Big Ten competition.

Van Hest was equally dangerous.

She attempted four shots, put three on goal and scored twice. After also scoring against Towson two days earlier, van Hest increased her season total to four goals.

Ierubino finished with a goal and an assist, while Bradford and Beach each recorded an assist.

Maryland’s offensive balance continues to make the Terps difficult to defend. Opponents cannot simply focus on stopping one player because scoring opportunities have come from throughout the lineup.

Another Dominant Defensive Performance

As impressive as Maryland’s five goals were, the defense deserves just as much attention.

Saint Joseph’s managed only eight shots, five of which reached the cage. Maryland also limited the Hawks to a single penalty corner over 60 minutes.

Klebasko played the first 45 minutes and made three saves without allowing a goal. The victory was the 40th of her Maryland career.

Osborne took over for the fourth quarter and made two saves to preserve the shutout.

Maryland therefore finished with five saves between its two goalkeepers while recording its second consecutive shutout.

Terps Outscore Towson and Saint Joseph’s 11-0

Maryland could hardly have asked for a better weekend.

The Terps defeated Towson, 6-0, Friday before turning around and beating Saint Joseph’s, 5-0, Sunday. Maryland therefore outscored its two opponents 11-0 over the weekend.

The Towson victory featured a four-goal third quarter and Jordyn Hollamon’s first career hat trick. Maryland outshot Towson 24-3 and followed that performance by producing another 24 shots against Saint Joseph’s.

The Terps have now scored 11 goals on 48 shots over their last two games without allowing a goal.

That is dominance at both ends of the field.

Perfect Start Continues

Maryland’s 6-0 start is significant historically.

This marks the 15th time in program history that the Terrapins have opened a season with six consecutive victories and the first time Maryland has accomplished the feat since 2022.

The Terps have defeated Drexel, Temple, Boston College, No. 6 Duke, Towson and Saint Joseph’s to begin the season.

The victory over Duke showed Maryland could handle adversity against an elite opponent. The Terps trailed 2-0 before battling back for a 3-2 shootout victory.

The victories over Towson and Saint Joseph’s showed something different.

Maryland demonstrated that it can completely overwhelm opponents when it establishes control.

Big Ten Play Comes Next

Maryland will now turn its attention toward conference competition.

The Terps travel to University Park to face Penn State on Thursday, Sept. 17, at 5 p.m. Maryland then returns to College Park to host Wake Forest on Sunday, Sept. 20.

The Penn State matchup will represent Maryland’s Big Ten opener and should provide another important measuring stick for an undefeated team that continues building momentum.

Maryland enters conference play at 6-0 with consecutive shutouts and an offense that has scored 11 goals over its last two games.

MSB Take

Maryland field hockey looks dangerous.

There is no better way to describe what the Terps have done through their first six games. Maryland is undefeated, has already beaten a top-10 opponent and just spent an entire weekend dismantling two opponents by a combined score of 11-0.

Sunday’s performance was especially impressive because Maryland never allowed Saint Joseph’s to believe an upset was possible. Van Hest scored less than three minutes into the game, Eschoyez provided another goal before halftime and the Terps put the game away with two goals separated by only 48 seconds early in the third quarter.

The balance is what stands out most.

Eschoyez is scoring. Van Hest is scoring. Ierubino contributed a goal and an assist Sunday. Bradford and Beach are creating opportunities, while Klebasko continues providing dependable play in the cage.

Maryland also generated 24 shots and 11 penalty corners while surrendering only eight shots and one corner. Those numbers show just how thoroughly the Terps controlled the game.

There will obviously be much tougher tests ahead. Big Ten play changes everything, and Maryland’s trip to Penn State will tell us considerably more about where this team stands.

But Maryland could not have done much more through six games.

The Terps are 6-0. They have consecutive shutouts. They have scored 11 unanswered goals in their last two games. They already own a victory over No. 6 Duke.

Now comes conference play.

If Maryland continues playing with this combination of offensive depth, defensive pressure and quality goalkeeping, the Terps have the pieces to make this a very interesting season.