No. 13 Maryland Field Hockey Stays Perfect With 3-1 Win Over Temple
COLLEGE PARK, Md. — No. 13 Maryland field hockey completed a perfect opening weekend Sunday afternoon, defeating Temple 3-1 at the Field Hockey & Lacrosse Complex to improve to 2-0 on the young season.
The Terrapins controlled the game for long stretches, outshooting Temple 18-6 and holding a commanding 9-1 advantage in penalty corners. Maryland also allowed only two shots on goal while producing eight of its own.
Francisca Eschoyez delivered the biggest performance of the afternoon, scoring twice for her first two goals as a Terrapin. Aida Ierubino also scored as Maryland followed Friday’s 3-0 victory over Drexel with another convincing performance.
Maryland immediately established control in the first quarter. Ella Beach generated two of the game’s first three shots, and the Terrapins held Temple without a shot while earning three penalty corners. Despite the pressure, the game remained scoreless through the opening 15 minutes.
The breakthrough finally came early in the second quarter.
Eschoyez opened the scoring at the 18:43 mark, converting Maryland’s 10th shot of the afternoon. Maci Bradford and Beach were credited with assists as the Terrapins finally turned their sustained pressure into a 1-0 advantage.
Maryland struck again before halftime.
Ierubino scored at 27:11 off an assist from Babs van Hest, giving the freshman her second goal of the season and extending Maryland’s advantage to 2-0. The Terrapins took that lead into the break after allowing Temple just one first-half shot.
Temple made things interesting late in the third quarter when Lucia Magro converted a penalty stroke at 43:44. It was one of the Owls’ few legitimate scoring opportunities and cut Maryland’s lead to 2-1 entering the fourth quarter.
Maryland responded quickly.
Just over two minutes into the fourth quarter, Eschoyez scored again following a penalty corner. Bradford and van Hest assisted on the goal, restoring Maryland’s two-goal advantage at 3-1. Eschoyez finished with four shots, all four on goal, while Bradford and van Hest each recorded two assists.
The Terrapins’ defense handled the rest.
Goalkeeper Alyssa Klebasko made one save and earned the 37th victory of her collegiate career. Maryland limited Temple to six total shots and just one penalty corner, continuing an impressive defensive start to the season.
The performance also continued Maryland’s dominance of Temple. The Terrapins improved to 19-7-2 in the all-time series and have now won 12 consecutive meetings against the Owls. Sunday represented the 28th meeting between the programs in a series that dates back to 1980.
Maryland has now opened a season 2-0 for the fifth consecutive year and has won all four of its Conference Cup games over the past two seasons. The Terrapins outshot Drexel and Temple by a combined 45-11 during the opening weekend.
The 2-0 start is especially encouraging considering the amount of new talent Maryland has incorporated into its lineup. Eschoyez, Ierubino, Beach and van Hest were all significant contributors Sunday, giving head coach Missy Meharg several additional offensive options alongside Maryland’s returning veterans.
Eschoyez’s emergence may be the biggest development of the weekend. The junior midfielder, who transferred into the program, showed her ability to become a dangerous option on Maryland’s penalty corner attack while also contributing throughout the midfield. Independent coverage of Sunday’s game noted Maryland’s ability to control possession and dictate the tempo against Temple.
Maryland will now receive an immediate step up in competition.
The Terrapins travel to Newton, Massachusetts, for the B1G/ACC Challenge, beginning with a road matchup against Boston College on Friday, Sept. 4 at 6 p.m. Maryland will then face Duke on Sunday, Sept. 6 at 11 a.m.
After two convincing home victories, Maryland will head into that challenge with momentum, an undefeated record and an offense that has already received contributions from several different players.
MSB Take
Maryland could not have asked for a much better opening weekend. The Terrapins handled Drexel and Temple, showed depth on offense and, perhaps most importantly, looked organized defensively from the opening whistle of the season. Francisca Eschoyez scoring twice against Temple is especially encouraging because Maryland will need multiple scoring threats once Big Ten play begins.
The next test will tell us considerably more. Boston College and Duke represent a significant jump in competition, and Maryland will have an opportunity to show whether this strong 2-0 start is simply a good opening weekend or the beginning of another season in which the Terrapins can contend nationally. Based on the first two games, there is plenty to like about this Maryland team.
The Terrapins could hardly have asked for a better opening weekend.
