Maryland field hockey entered the 2026 season trying to make sure 2025 was merely a hiccup.
The Terps finished 10-8 last year, their most losses in a season since going 10-9-2 in 1994. Maryland also missed the NCAA Tournament, ending a 28-season run of consecutive tournament appearances.
One year later, Maryland is enjoying one of the best seasons in program history.
The No. 1 Terps (14-0) face No. 2 Northwestern on Oct. 22. It’s their fourth 14-0 start in program history and the first time since 2013. Maryland has eight shutouts and has outscored opponents, 51-10, thus far.
Senior defender and captain Josie Hollamon believes the quick turnaround started with learning from last season’s mistakes.
“Last season was completely out of the norm for Maryland field hockey,” Hollamon said on Glenn Clark Radio Oct. 20. “I take last season and put a line through it every time someone asks me about it, just because we’ve done so well this season and we learned so much from last season.”
Maryland’s response started months before their 2026 season began. The program’s turf was replaced during the offseason, so the Terps had to find a different place to practice in the meantime. Hollamon said the Terps split time between Towson, American, and an indoor space near the university’s golf course that was half the size of a normal field.
That meant traveling back and forth for workouts, even when players still had classes and other responsibilities.
“I think it built a lot of character, and I think it’s propelled our team into how we can overcome a lot of things this season,” Hollamon said.
The inconvenience didn’t feel helpful to them at the time.
“In the moment we were definitely like, ‘Ugh, why are we on the road? Why are we stuck in traffic? We all have to come back and go to class,'” Hollamon said. “And now it’s like nothing can faze us because we went through all that. So it was definitely a blessing.”
Hollamon has been an important piece of the team throughout her time at Maryland.
The 5-foot-4 defender from Delmar, Del., was named a captain before the 2026 season began. She is a two-time All-American and a two-time first-team All-Big Ten selection. Hollamon earned first-team All-American honors and was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year as a sophomore in 2024 before earning second-team All-American honors in 2025.
Her time at Maryland has also been a family affair. Her younger sister, Jordyn Hollamon, and cousin Maci Bradford are also on Maryland’s roster.
“It’s so awesome to be able to go out there and not only play games with her but train with her every single day,” Hollamon said of Jordyn. “… I’m just surrounded by family every single day, and it means the world to me.”
Hollamon’s field hockey goals extend beyond Maryland. She is part of the USA Field Hockey program, and competing in the Olympics has always been a dream.
“I would love to go to the Olympics with my sister,” Hollamon said.
Hollamon hasn’t decided what she will do after this season. Since there is no U.S. professional field hockey league, players usually have to choose between committing to the national team or using another year of college eligibility.
For now, there is still plenty to accomplish at Maryland. The Terps have won eight national championships, but their last championship trophy came in 2011, when Maryland rallied from a two-goal deficit late to beat North Carolina in overtime. Maryland has also not reached the Final Four since 2022, the season before Hollamon arrived.
That history is why Hollamon wanted to play at Maryland in the first place.
“One of the reasons why I committed to Maryland and why I chose to come to Maryland was the winning culture and everything they’ve done,” Hollamon said. “[Head coach Missy Meharg] is an absolute legend, and this program has a complete legacy behind it.”
The next step comes against Northwestern. Maryland travels to Evanston, Ill., for an Oct. 22 matchup at 8 p.m. on Big Ten Network between the nation’s top two teams.
Hollamon said the familiarity between the two teams has added to the anticipation that is building up. Players from both Maryland and Northwestern have played together with USA Field Hockey, and the teams regularly meet in high-stakes matches.
“Every single time we play them, it’s been a tough matchup,” Hollamon said. “It’s been a battle. We are two gritty teams that know so much about each other.”
Maryland’s perfect record may be on the line, but Hollamon said the Terps aren’t approaching this matchup worried about protecting it.
“I don’t think we fear what the outcome is going to be,” Hollamon said. “I think we’re just ready to go out there and play and have a good battle against a really good team.”
As Hollamon approaches the possible final season of her Maryland career, she hasn’t been looking past Northwestern.
“I would love to make it to the Final Four and raise a national championship trophy because that’s what Maryland field hockey does,” Hollamon said. “But I’m staying super present-focused this season and one game at a time, and that’s Northwestern this Thursday.”
For more from Hollamon, watch the full interview here:
Photo Credit: Courtesy of Maryland Athletics