For the University of Maryland field hockey team to be ready for the November postseason, it was a wise move to schedule its most difficult opponents during the season's first month.
The Terps came through the early gauntlet knowing what will be required to earn their 22nd consecutive bid to the NCAA tournament. Maryland went 1-2 against three nationally ranked teams. After beating unranked St. Joseph's (Pa.), 6-2, in its season opener, Maryland began its toughest nonconference stretch with a 4-1 loss to then-No. 2 Syracuse Aug. 28 at the Conference Cup in Philadelphia, Pa. During the following weekend, the Terps split a pair of games against two former Atlantic Coast Conference foes at the Big Ten/ACC Cup, losing to fourth-ranked Duke, 1-0, and beating then-No. 8 Boston College, 3-1.
Head coach Missy Meharg's squad heads into its Big Ten schedule with a 4-2 record, following consecutive wins against California and American at the Sept. 10-11 Terrapin Invitational. The Terps were ranked seventh in the Sept. 6 National Field Hockey Coaches Association poll.
