File Photo Courtesy of E.J. Karsten

Boxscore

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - After scoring five goals in the first 15 minutes of action, the No. 2 Maryland Terrapins eased into a 7-0 victory over the University of Delaware field hockey team during a non-conference bout at the Maryland Field Hockey Complex on Sunday afternoon.

Maryland's Katie O'Donnell scored a hat-trick to lead the Terrapin offense, while Emma Thomas scored twice and Susie Rowe added a goal and two assists. It marked the second straight meeting between the two schools that saw a Terrapin record a hat-trick after Janneke van Leeuwen had three goals in Maryland's 7-0 victory against Delaware last season.

The seven-goal loss is tied for the second largest in school history. Along with the Hens' 7-0 loss last year to the Terrapins, the team also fell 8-1 to Maryland in 1997. The 8-0 loss at the hands of the Terps in 2000 is the all-time record.

Freshman goalie Noelle Diana (at right) played the last 51 minutes of action for Delaware (3-12), holding the high-powered Maryland offense to just two goals while posting a pair of saves during her time in the cage.

Maryland (14-2) scored quickly in the game as Rowe found Thomas on a penalty corner at 3:13 in the first half. Just over two minutes later, Sarah Scholl added an unassisted goal to put the Terps up by two.

Although the Delaware defense held Maryland down for the next five minutes of action, the Terrapins put the game out-of-reach with three quick goals. O'Donnell scored her first of the contest after corralling a pass from Rowe off a penalty corner at 10:02 before Rowe found the back of the cage at 14:15.

Just 24 seconds later, O'Donnell added her second score on a hard shot from the top of the circle.

Following a goalie substitution, Delaware held Maryland scoreless for the next 45 minutes of play before Thomas took a pass from Ellen Ott and snuck a shot past Diana. Six minutes later, O'Donnell capped the scoring with her team-leading 16th goal of the season.

During the contest, Delaware was out-shot by a 19-2 margin. Juniors Tori Karsten and Kimmy Schlezes both uncorked shots for the Hens, but Maryland's Alicia Grater and Melissa Vassalotti combined for the shutout.

Eight of the Hens' 12 losses this season have come to teams ranked in the top-20, including three of the top-four teams in the country as of the latest national coaches poll.

Overall, Delaware has now lost 10 straight decisions to the powerful Terrapins since a 2-1 victory in 1998. The Hens have not won in College Park since a 2-1 win in 1981, during which Carol Miller was a captain on the squad and current Maryland head coach Missy Meharg scored one of Delaware's goals.

The Blue Hens will look to get back-on-track next Sunday when the team hosts Towson during its final home game of the season at 1 p.m.