No. 2 Maryland Field Hockey Stays Perfect With 4-1 Victory Over Delaware
No. 2 Maryland field hockey continued its unbeaten start to the 2026 season Sunday afternoon, defeating Delaware 4-1 at the Field Hockey & Lacrosse Complex in College Park. The Terrapins improved to 11-0 overall and remained 2-0 in Big Ten play, reaching 11 victories without a loss for just the seventh time in program history. Maryland also completed its nonconference schedule unbeaten and extended its winning streak against Delaware to 15 consecutive games.
Maryland controlled much of the action despite Delaware keeping the game close during the first half. The Terrapins finished with a 16-5 advantage in shots and continually pressured the Blue Hens’ defense, but the teams entered halftime tied at 1-1. Maryland eventually broke through with three unanswered goals after halftime to turn a competitive afternoon into another convincing victory.
Hollamon gets Maryland started
Jordyn Hollamon put Maryland ahead just 6:34 into the game, scoring an unassisted goal for her fourth of the season. The early strike appeared capable of opening the floodgates for a Maryland offense that entered the afternoon playing some of its best field hockey of the season. Delaware responded less than four minutes later, however, when Livia van’t Hek scored off an assist from Avary Miller at the 10-minute mark to tie the game at 1-1.
Neither team scored during the second quarter, allowing Delaware to take a 1-1 tie into halftime despite Maryland’s advantage in possession and offensive opportunities. It was an unusual position for a Terrapins team that had consistently found ways to control opponents during its undefeated start. Maryland did not panic, and the second half showed why the Terps have established themselves as one of the country’s top teams.
Gilmore breaks the tie
Freshman Kendall Gilmore finally put Maryland back in front at the 34:27 mark of the third quarter. Brinkley Eyre provided the assist as Gilmore scored her second career goal, giving the Terrapins a 2-1 advantage they would never surrender. The goal proved to be the game-winner and gave Maryland the breakthrough it needed after Delaware had kept the game even for more than 24 minutes.
Maryland’s defense made sure that advantage held. Goalkeeper Alyssa Klebasko and the Terrapins shut Delaware out over the final three quarters, continuing what has been an outstanding defensive season in College Park. Klebasko earned the 45th victory of her Maryland career, while the Terps have now surrendered only two goals across their seven home victories this season.
Terps pull away in the fourth
Feliz Kuhne gave Maryland some breathing room only 1:13 into the fourth quarter, scoring an unassisted goal to extend the advantage to 3-1. It was Kuhne’s second goal of the season and forced Delaware into an increasingly difficult position against one of the nation’s strongest defensive teams. Maryland continued attacking instead of simply protecting the two-goal advantage.
Hollamon delivered the final blow at 51:54, scoring her second goal of the afternoon and fifth of the season. Josie Hollamon picked up the assist on the play, completing the scoring at 4-1. Jordyn Hollamon’s two-goal performance highlighted an attack that received goals from three different players and overwhelmed Delaware after halftime.
Another historic start for Maryland
The victory moved Maryland to 11-0 for only the seventh time in program history, adding another milestone to what has become an outstanding season. The Terrapins entered the Delaware game coming off a dramatic 4-3 shootout victory over No. 10 Princeton, which was already their third top-10 victory of the year. Maryland has shown it can win close defensive battles, survive shootouts against nationally ranked opponents and pull away from teams when its offense finds another gear.
Maryland’s defense has been especially impressive at home, where opponents have managed only two total goals across seven Terrapins victories. Earlier this season, Maryland defeated No. 4 Wake Forest 1-0 behind a shutout from Klebasko, and the Terps have continued building on that defensive identity. The combination of elite goalkeeping, disciplined defense and an offense capable of getting production throughout the lineup has made Maryland one of the most complete teams in the country.
The Terrapins also improved to 26-10-4 all-time against Delaware and have now won 15 consecutive meetings in the series. Delaware presented a legitimate challenge during the opening 30 minutes Sunday, but Maryland’s response after halftime was exactly what should be expected from a team with championship aspirations. Instead of allowing a 1-1 game to become uncomfortable, the Terps scored three unanswered goals and shut down the Blue Hens the rest of the way.
Up next
Maryland now turns its attention completely toward Big Ten competition, with a major road test awaiting the Terrapins. The Terps travel to face No. 15 Michigan on Friday, Oct. 9, as their undefeated season moves into its next stage. Maryland will enter that matchup 11-0 overall and 2-0 in conference play with an opportunity to strengthen both its Big Ten position and national résumé.
The schedule will become increasingly important from here, but Maryland has already demonstrated that its perfect record is no accident. The Terps have beaten multiple nationally ranked opponents, won away from College Park and shown the ability to adjust when games do not immediately go their way. An 11-0 start has placed Maryland firmly among the programs capable of making a serious run deep into November.
MSB Take
Maryland field hockey looks like a legitimate national championship contender, and Sunday’s game provided another example of why. Delaware managed to frustrate the Terps for a half, but Maryland never lost control emotionally and eventually overwhelmed the Blue Hens with its depth and pressure. Championship teams are not going to dominate every minute of every game, and the ability to solve problems during games can become just as important as pure talent.
The most encouraging part of this Maryland team may be how many different ways it can win. Klebasko gives the Terps an experienced presence in goal, the defense has been outstanding, and players throughout the lineup are contributing offensively rather than leaving the scoring burden to one or two stars. Maryland is 11-0, ranked No. 2 nationally and entering the heart of Big Ten play with every major goal still in front of it.
