F. Hockey can't get a shot on goal vs. No. 3 Maryland

The Terps were led by Lynsey McVicker, a native of Northern Ireland. Irish eyes smiled on the Maryland field hockey team, as it dropped the Quakers field hockey team, 6-0, last night on Franklin Field. Maryland senior forward Lynsey McVicker, a native of Balleymoney, Northern Ireland, recorded a hat trick as the No. 3-ranked Terps rolled over the Quakers. Despite winning its last two games, Penn was not surprised that Maryland (17-1) earned the victory. The Terps dominated from the opening hit, not allowing Penn (9-4) a single penalty corner opportunity, nor a single shot on goal. Yet Quakers coach Val Cloud was not as devastated by the loss as the score would seem. "I wasn't totally displeased with the way we played," Cloud said. "I wasn't expecting to beat up on them. I would have liked to have gotten a shot on goal, though." The Terps' first score came with just under 29 minutes to go in the first half, as freshman midfielder Kelli Smith sent a shot past Penn goalkeeper Sarah Dunn. McVicker assisted on the goal, adding to her team-leading total of 20. Roughly 10 minutes later, McVicker racked up assist No. 22, as she finessed the ball over to fellow international teammate Nadine Bennett. Bennett, who hails from Cheguta, Zimbabwe, rifled a shot into the cage, bringing her team-leading goal total to 22 for the season. Meanwhile, the Quakers could not get anything going against a strong defense that kept the ball in Penn's zone for virtually the entire game. The Quakers played more conservatively, not wanting to give up any easy breakaways for Maryland. "If we had put pressure on, they would have gone right in behind us and start breaking away," Cloud said. "That's what you have to do against a better team -- cut down the size of the field. If you play them 100 yards, you're going to be chasing them the whole time." The Quakers could not keep up, and with 7:30 left in the half, Penn senior co-captain Michelle Canuso-Bedesem blocked a sure goal with her hand, resulting in a penalty stroke. McVicker knocked the ball in from the top of the circle, and the score was 3-0 at the end of the half. The second half opened as the first had. With 30:30 remaining, McVicker dived and scored on a penalty corner. One minute later, Maryland ran an identical play on another corner opportunity, and McVicker again found the cage, completing her hat trick. Maryland senior midfielder Christine DeBow added one more goal for good measure with six minutes to go in the game, resulting in a 6-0 victory for third-ranked Maryland. "I think we kept our composure," Cloud said. "We just haven't seen that speed or skill all year. You just do the best you can against them and hope to take something away from it positively. Hopefully this will make us sharpen up for Brown." The Bears invade Franklin Field Saturday for Parents Weekend. After that, the Quakers have to face yet another top-notch team -- Penn State -- on the road.