Field Hockey Battles Defensively Against #11 Maryland

EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State field hockey battled defensively but ultimately fell to No. 11-ranked Maryland in its final game of the weekend, 2-0, on Sunday afternoon at Ralph Young Field.
MSU moves to 3-8 (0-4 B1G) and will next return to the pitch at Ralph Young Field on Sunday, October 12th to host non-conference opponent Appalachian State.

Maryland owned a 24-6 advantage in shots (14-3 shots on goal), and a 10-3 edge in penalty corners, while MSU had 10 more saves than the Terrapins (14-4).

Junior goalkeeper Lyra Gavino matched her season high with 14 saves and faced a season high 25 shots. Graduate student Maddie Lawlor led the team in shots and had the Spartans lone three shots on goal.

Maryland drew five penalty corners in the first quarter, which led to a barrage of shots from the Terrapin attack. Gavino and the MSU defense held their ground, turning Maryland away on multiple shot attempts until the Terrapins recovered a rebound off a save from Gavino and capitalized on their first goal of the game in the 11th minute.

The Terrapins and Spartans traded possessions in the 2nd quarter, with MSU staying sturdy on defense by turning five Terrapin shots away. With under a minute remaining in the quarter, MSU's freshman forward Caroline Horace fired the Spartans lone shot of the quarter, but it went just wide of goal.

On the ensuing possession, MSU earned its first penalty corner of the day in the third quarter. Lawlor received a nice setting pass and fired a shot that was saved by the Maryland goalkeeper with under 1 minute remaining in the third.

MSU started the fourth quarter off with energy, earning two penalty corners in the 48th minute. On the first penalty corner attempt, Lawlor had a look on goal but was turned away by the Terrapin goalkeeper. Junior midfielder Katelyn Dulin recovered the save shot and fired a shot of her own that was blocked, and junior back Serena Mailhe retrieved the Dulin blocked shot and fired a shot that was blocked by a Maryland defender but gave MSU another penalty corner try. On the second penalty corner attempt in the sequence, Lawlor had another look on goal but was denied by the Maryland goalkeeper for a second time.

Moments later in the 55th minute of regulation, Maryland converted for their second and final score of the day, as MSU was exiting a man down situation.

Next Event

Team Stats

Maddie Lawlor

Katelyn Dulin

Serena Mailhe

Caroline Horace

Players Mentioned

Katelyn Dulin

Lyra Gavino

Caroline Horace

Maddie Lawlor

Serena Mailhe