By Deja Jones
Maryland field hockey’s freshman midfielder and defender Jordyn Hollamon earned her second Big Ten Freshman of the Week title on Sept. 22. A Delaware native, Hollamon picked up her first conference honor on Sept. 2.
After helping the Terps go undefeated against Villanova and Stanford in the Conference Cup, Hollamon scored her first career goal and the Terps’ first goal of the season against Stanford.
Hollamon received her second conference honor of the season after she helped the No. 10 Terps secure their first conference win over No. 16 Penn State by a score of 3-1. She led the team with three points, including a goal off a penalty corner.
According to Maryland head coach Missy Meharg, Hollamon’s impact goes far beyond the stat sheet.
“She’s talented, tough, gritty, and loves the pressure of time and score,” Meharg said. “She’s added so much depth to our forward line and brings it every single day in training. She’s very coachable, which makes her growth exciting to watch.”
Her teammates have noticed her growth as well. Junior forward Maci Bradford, Hollamon’s cousin, said the freshman has quickly become a key piece of the Terps’ attack.
“She’s gritty, strong on the ball and super competitive,” Bradford said. “On attacking corners she’s been huge, and she always seems to step up in important moments.”
Junior midfielder Ericka Morris-Adams agreed, calling Hollamon “super feisty and smart.”
“For a freshman, we can rely on her in big moments to score a goal. She brings grit to the forward line, and her shot variety makes her a hassle to defend,” Morris-Adams said.
Hollamon’s transition from high school to the Big Ten hasn’t been easy, but she claimed the challenges of practice have prepared her for success. “The pace of the game is completely different – you have to be in way more shape, run longer and be stronger on the ball,” said Hollamon. “But the intensity of our practices and the support from my teammates and coaches has made the adjustment easier.”
That support system includes family members playing alongside her on the field. The team includes her cousin Bradford and her sister, junior defender Josie Hollamon, making the jump to college smoother.
Despite the early honors, Hollamon remains focused on team goals. “We just want to keep getting better every day,” Hollamon said. “We want to win the Big Ten, make the NCAA Tournament and push for a national championship.”
With two Freshman of the Week awards in her first month, Hollamon has quickly proven she’s more than ready for the spotlight.
As Bradford put it, “She’s playing with so much confidence already, and if she keeps building on that, it’s only going to help our team grow.”
Featured Image: View of Field Hockey and Lacrosse Complex on Paint Branch Drive. Photo by Deja Jones