Bright and early

No one on the Terrapins field hockey team had ever known what losing to Boston College felt like when they traveled to Chestnut Hill, Mass., on Friday night.

An 8-0 all-time record against the then-No. 8 Eagles had defined the conference rivals' one-sided series, but as the Terps headed to overtime deadlocked at 3-3, that dominance was in jeopardy.

Surprisingly, it took a newcomer to keep one of the team's oldest winning streaks alive. Playing in overtime in her first-ever ACC game, freshman forward Maxine Fluharty took a pass in the circle and tipped in what was only the third goal of her career, clinching a Terps victory.

On a Terps team returning seven of 11 starters from its national championship team a season ago, Fluharty has wasted no time in securing her place alongside a veteran lineup. The reigning ACC Player of the Week, Fluharty has combined with classmate Katie Gerzabek to provide a substantial early impact, and coach Missy Meharg said they're only getting better.

"It is challenging to step right in as freshmen in the ACC, especially in field hockey," Meharg said. "I'm very proud of them. … They're serving the team exceedingly well and they play very well together."

The No. 3 Terps (7-1) have scored 28 goals so far in their eight contests this season, and the two freshmen have proved to be valuable cogs in the team's attack. Fluharty and Gerzabek are responsible for a combined 10 goals, better than 35 percent of the team's total scoring output this season.

Gerzabek got off to the faster start this season, netting the first two of her six career goals in the Terps' second game of the season against Temple. But Fluharty has had the hot hand of late, scoring three of her four career goals this past weekend against Boston College and Massachusetts, including the game-winning goal against the Eagles in overtime.

"I see them growing every training session and every game," Meharg said. "I love to see people reach their potential, and I think they are playing at the level that they can."

But even with all the early success, neither player really expected to have such a vital role on the team this soon in their careers, especially on a squad filled with players fresh off a national championship.

"I didn't really have expectations," Fluharty said. "I just went out there to play my hardest and contribute the most that I can."

"There's so many great players on the team that I was just hoping to fit in well with them and keep working well as a team," Gerzabek said. "It's only the beginning, so if I keep working hard, then I'll get better results."

Part of the reason both have been able to find success so quickly is their field hockey experience outside of regular high school and college competition. Both are members of the U.S. under-21 and under-19 teams, lending them extensive international playing experience that comes in handy.

"Maryland has provided these high-performance, under-21 players the right level of training," Meharg said. "They both have high aspirations of competing and they're doing very well in their role with the University of Maryland."

"Playing internationally kind of helped me come into the college aspect and the intensity," Gerzabek said. "It's definitely different than high school, but I think my international experience has helped me adjust."

Even as freshmen, Fluharty and Gerzabek have made impressive contributions to a team already filled with veteran presences. Their roles have been vital to the Terps' success so far, and Meharg said she is excited to see how much each player can continue to grow.

"Both of them will have great college careers. We've already seen it," Meharg said. "It's just a tradition of top-level players to be at Maryland, they're wonderful characters and they fit into our character type very well, which is simple, hard-working and having no regrets."

vitale@umdbk.com