Maryland field hockey weekend preview: Ohio State and Michigan State

For the first time this season, Maryland field hockey relinquished its top-10 ranking, falling to No. 11 in the National Field Hockey Coaches Association poll. Though they still sit atop the Big Ten standings, the Terps are heading on their first true road trip with plans to improve their record and their rank. 

Maryland will face off against Ohio State Friday at 3 p.m. in Columbus, Ohio. Their game will play on the Big Ten Network. Then, the Terps head up to East Lansing to play against Michigan State Sunday at noon on Big Ten Plus. 

Ohio State Buckeyes (4-5, 0-1 Big Ten)

2024 Record: 14-5, 4-4 Big Ten Conference

With head coach Jarred Martin at the helm, Ohio State has only missed one conference tournament in eight years. The Buckeyes shut out Delaware on Sunday but lost to Rutgers in overtime just two days before that. Playing their first game back in Columbus since Sept. 7, Ohio State will look to use its home advantage to earn a win.

Players to watch 

Makenna Webster, graduate forward, No. 8 — Webster’s been the primary bright spot for the Buckeyes this season, continuing her Big Ten All-Conference form from the year prior. She leads the Buckeyes in goals, assists, shots on goal and game-winning shots. Webster also ranks second in both goals and assists in the Big Ten. 

Madeline Bogle, sophomore defender, No 33. — Bogle is back on the field after missing her entire true freshman season due to injury. Before her time as a Buckeye, the sophomore was named to the NFHCA All-Region second team. Bogle is the only member of Ohio State’s field hockey team who has logged a defensive save. 

Strength

Roster diversity. Ohio State has about eight players per non-goalkeeper position on their roster each of whom play roughly two quarters per game on average. Much like Maryland head coach Missy Meharg, Martin has the ability to rotate players on and off the field, keeping the Buckeyes fresh and laser-focused.

Weakness

Depth on the front line. Excluding Webster’s 14 goals for the season, the Buckeyes only scored a combined 13 goals this year. Maryland’s defense” must keep Webster out of the attack zone to limit goalscoring for the entire team. 

Michigan State Spartans (3-6, 0-2 Big Ten)

2024 Record: 8-10, 1-7 Big Ten

The Spartans are on the rebuild after losing seven players at the end of last season. They currently rank last in the Big Ten, and lost their last four games in a row. Under head coach Helen Knull, Michigan State is undefeated at home, and the Spartans will bring an intent to remain that way when they host Maryland.

Players to watch

Caro Schafer, sophomore defender, No. 18 — Schafer started every game of 2024 as a freshman, where she led Michigan State with three defensive saves — one of which was against Maryland. Schafer leads the team in assists and is joint-top scorer alongside six of her teammates with two goals. 

Maddie Lawlor, graduate midfielder, No. 8 — Lawlor returned to the field in 2024 after missing her entire junior season due to an injury. The graduate started and played in every game last year while tying for the most goals on the team. The team’s primary offensive focal point, Lawlor has taken the most shots on goal this season, and scored one game-winner against Merrimack College. 

Strength

Offensive depth. Nearly half of the Spartans’ roster has scored at least one goal this season. Without a specific scorer to lock down, the Terps will have to spread the press across the field to limit scoring. 

Weakness

Youth. 13 players on Michigan State’s 27-player roster had never played collegiate field hockey entering the season. Inexperience on the field could be a significant disadvantage against Maryland, who has 15 returning players. 

Three things to know

1. Maintaining an undefeated record. Maryland leads Michigan State in the schools’ all-time series, 13-0. Five of their last nine matchups ended in shutouts. 

2. Reheating a hot streak. The Buckeyes and the Terps’s game will mark 22 years since they played each other for the first time. The Terps had beaten the Buckeyes every year until last season. Maryland seeks to restart their winning streak this weekend. 

3. Next-level coaching. Jarred Martin and Missy Meharg both coached in the Women’s National Team ranks during their career. Martin coached the U17 team in 2015 and U21 team in 2016 and 2017, while Meharg served on the senior staff from 1993-1997.