IU started Big Ten play Friday afternoon against No. 9 Maryland at the IU Field Hockey Complex, with the Hoosiers losing 3-1 to the Terrapins.
IU played a competitive first half, but did not have enough in the tank to keep it close for the whole game.
Maryland outshot IU 21-6, including 16 shots to IU’s three shots in the second half.
"We gave them nine defensive corners in the second half," IU Coach Amanda Janney said. "That’s way too many against such a talented team."
Along with being out performed in total shot, IU also lagged behind Maryland in penalty corners. Maryland had 11 penalty corners to IU’s three.
Senior defender Elle Hempt scored the lone IU goal in the game. She netted her second goal of the season off of a penalty corner in the second half to put IU on the scoreboard, but the Hoosiers still trailed Maryland 2-1 after the goal.
Just 25 seconds later, Maryland scored its third goal of the game, and the score remained 3-1 in favor of Maryland for the final 15 minutes of the game.
IU senior goalkeeper Katie Johnson made six saves during the game, with five of her stops coming in the second half.
"I think we are pleased by our level of play and hustle," Janney said. "We had some sparks of brilliance; we just have to have more of that to get more opportunities."
After playing four ranked opponents in their first seven games, IU will play an unranked Ball State team at 1 p.m. Sunday at the IU Field Hockey Complex.
