No. 13 Maryland Field Hockey Blanks Boston College, 2-0, to Stay Unbeaten

NEWTON, Mass. — No. 13 Maryland field hockey continued its unbeaten start to the 2026 season Friday night, defeating Boston College 2-0 in the opening game of the Big Ten/ACC Challenge. The Terrapins struck twice in the first half and then relied on another outstanding defensive performance to shut down the Eagles over the final 30 minutes. Maryland improved to 3-0 for the fourth time in the past five seasons and remained perfect away from home to begin the year.

Francisca Eschoyez and Feliz Kuhne provided Maryland’s goals, while goalkeeper Alyssa Klebasko recorded four saves and her 18th career shutout. The Terps outshot Boston College 13-6 and put seven attempts on goal compared with four for the Eagles. More importantly, Maryland completely eliminated Boston College’s attack after halftime, allowing just one shot over the final two quarters.

Boston College tested Maryland immediately, forcing Klebasko into a save during the opening minute. That early pressure could have given the Eagles momentum on their home field, but Maryland’s goalkeeper kept the game scoreless and allowed the Terps time to settle into the contest. The response came quickly at the other end.

Eschoyez gave Maryland a 1-0 lead at 6:33 in the opening quarter. Maia Adamson and Babs van Hest combined to set up the scoring play, with Eschoyez converting her third goal of the young season. It was another strong start for Eschoyez, who has quickly emerged as one of Maryland’s most productive offensive players.

The Eagles did not disappear after Maryland took the lead. Boston College generated two more shots on goal during the opening quarter, forcing Klebasko into back-to-back saves in the ninth and 10th minutes. Klebasko handled both chances and helped Maryland carry its 1-0 advantage into the second period.

Maryland began to take greater control of the game in the second quarter. Kuhne doubled the lead at 20:48, scoring her first goal of the season off assists from Maci Bradford and van Hest. The goal gave van Hest her second assist of the evening and placed Maryland in command at 2-0.

The Terrapins continued applying pressure shortly after Kuhne’s goal. Eschoyez put another shot on cage in the 23rd minute, forcing Boston College goalkeeper Charlotte Kramer to make her first save. Klebasko answered with her fourth save of the game in the 26th minute, allowing Maryland to take a two-goal advantage into halftime.

The first half demonstrated Maryland’s ability to win at both ends of the field. The Terps generated six shots over the opening 30 minutes and converted two of them, while Klebasko denied every Boston College attempt that reached the cage. Maryland also showed impressive balance offensively, with four different players collecting assists on its two goals.

Maryland then controlled the game defensively after halftime.

Boston College did not record a single shot in the third quarter. Maryland allowed five Eagles attempts in the first half, but completely erased that attacking pressure coming out of the break. Adamson nearly added to the lead in the 34th minute, forcing Kramer into another save.

The Terps entered the fourth quarter still leading 2-0 and showed little interest in giving Boston College an opportunity to make the game interesting. Maryland remained organized defensively and continued limiting the Eagles’ ability to create quality chances around the circle. Boston College recorded only one shot during the entire second half and failed to put a second-half attempt on goal.

Maryland nearly added a third goal late in regulation. Kramer made two saves during the 55th minute as the Terrapins continued attacking despite already holding a comfortable lead. Boston College’s goalkeeper ultimately finished with five saves on Maryland’s seven shots on goal.

The final numbers demonstrated Maryland’s control. The Terps outshot the Eagles 13-6 and finished with a 7-4 advantage in shots on goal. Boston College actually earned five penalty corners compared with Maryland’s three, but the Terps prevented the Eagles from turning those set-piece opportunities into goals.

Klebasko’s performance was particularly important because Boston College created legitimate scoring opportunities early. She made three saves in the opening quarter and another in the second before Maryland’s defense prevented her from needing another stop after halftime. The shutout was the 18th of Klebasko’s career and gave her career win No. 38.

Those numbers continue to establish Klebasko as one of the anchors of Maryland’s defense. Goalkeepers are often judged by what happens during the biggest moments rather than overall shot volume, and Klebasko answered every Boston College challenge Friday night. Her early saves were particularly important because they came before Maryland had established complete control of the contest.

Eschoyez continued her excellent start with the opening goal. Her strike was already her third goal through Maryland’s first three games, giving the Terps an early-season scoring threat who has consistently found ways to create offense. She also finished with multiple dangerous chances against Boston College.

Van Hest quietly produced one of Maryland’s most important performances. She assisted on both goals, helping create Eschoyez’s opener before contributing again when Kuhne doubled the advantage. Van Hest increased her season assist total to four and demonstrated how many different ways Maryland can create scoring opportunities.

Bradford also continued contributing offensively with an assist on Kuhne’s goal. The assist was Bradford’s fourth of the season, giving Maryland another dangerous playmaker around the attacking circle. With several players already producing early in the season, opposing defenses cannot simply focus on stopping one scorer.

Perhaps the most encouraging statistic for Maryland is what the defense has done collectively through the opening three games. The Terps have outshot their opponents 59-17 and have surrendered only one goal. That type of territorial control gives Maryland a significant advantage because opponents are spending much of the game defending rather than creating sustained attacking pressure.

Friday’s performance was another example. Boston College managed just six shots in 60 minutes and only one after halftime. Maryland did not simply protect its two-goal lead; the Terps prevented Boston College from producing the opportunities necessary to threaten it.

Maryland’s history against Boston College also continued trending heavily in the Terps’ favor. The victory improved Maryland to 18-4 all-time against the Eagles in a series dating to 1997. Maryland is also now 8-0 in road games against Boston College and has won four of the last five meetings between the programs.

The victory also improved Maryland’s record in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge to 9-5 since 2018. The annual event provides an early-season measuring stick against strong ACC programs and gives Maryland quality nonconference competition before Big Ten play becomes the primary focus. Taking care of Boston College gave the Terps an excellent start to the weekend.

The challenge gets considerably more difficult from here.

Maryland closes the Big Ten/ACC Challenge against No. 6 Duke on Sunday. The Blue Devils present the Terps with their first matchup against a top-10 opponent this season and should provide a much stronger early indication of where Maryland stands nationally. A victory would give Maryland its first 4-0 start since 2022.

The Terps enter that matchup playing exactly the kind of field hockey needed against elite competition. Maryland is generating significantly more shots than its opponents, getting production from several offensive players and receiving high-level goaltending from Klebasko. Most importantly, the Terps have shown the ability to control games defensively for extended stretches.

MSB Take

This was a very Maryland field hockey kind of victory.

The Terps scored early, defended extremely well and slowly took away everything Boston College wanted to do offensively. Maryland did not need five or six goals to dominate the game because once the Terps established their 2-0 advantage, Boston College simply could not consistently generate scoring chances.

Klebasko deserves plenty of credit for making sure Maryland survived Boston College’s early push. Three first-quarter saves prevented the Eagles from turning their opening pressure into an early lead, and Maryland took advantage by scoring at the other end. Once the Terps settled down defensively, Klebasko barely had anything to do during the second half.

The most impressive stat might be Maryland’s 59-17 shot advantage through the opening three games. That tells you this team is not simply winning close games or getting fortunate results. The Terps are controlling possession, limiting opposing attacks and spending significantly more time creating offense than defending it.

Maryland has also surrendered only one goal through three games. When a team combines that level of defense with players such as Eschoyez, Bradford, van Hest, Adamson and Kuhne generating offense, it becomes extremely difficult to beat. There is plenty of season remaining, but Maryland has looked very complete through its opening stretch.

Now comes the real test against No. 6 Duke.

A win over Boston College is a strong road result, but beating a top-10 Duke team would immediately strengthen Maryland’s national résumé and show that this unbeaten start can translate against some of the best competition in the country. The Terps are 3-0, playing excellent defense and getting contributions throughout the lineup.

Sunday should tell us a lot more about just how good this Maryland team can be.