While it was a far more difficult game than head coach Missy Meharg would have liked, No. 7 Maryland field hockey escaped its Big Ten opener against No. 13 Rutgers with a 3-2 win.
The Terps got an unexpected early taste of their future, as they were without star defender Rayne Wright for the first time this decade. Wright, the stalwart who had played in 89-straight games, was reportedly day-to-day, dealing with an injury in practice, and was not fit enough to play today.
The game got off to a slow start, with neither team registering a shot through nearly 10 minutes of play.
Rutgers ended up with the afternoon’s first shot, as a penalty corner got sent to goalkeeper Alyssa Klebasko’s left by Scarlet Knights midfielder Kylee Cogdell. Rutgers’ Bridy Molyneaux was in an opportunistic position to hit the ball back across, where it appeared to redirect off of Terp Annemijn Klijnhout and behind an outstretched Klebasko.
That shot turned out to be the only one in the first half of a close affair, which saw the Terps go shotless and get heavily out-possessed early in the game for the first time this season.
“I think there was a lot said during halftime just because we weren’t necessarily playing our game. So we just talked about playing our game, passing the ball, making the ball do the work rather than trying to play one versus one up the field, and I think it reflected in the second half,” captain Kylee Niswonger said.
Maryland did find offensive intent entering the second half. The Terps’ first two opportunities came one after the other, with Niswonger and Gaitan each hitting balls that did not truly trouble Rutgers goalkeeper Sophia Howard.
The third time appeared to be the charm. Six minutes into the 3rd quarter, a frantic, scrappy crowd fought for the ball in front of the Rutgers goal, with Maya Everett the one to get her stick through the ball and level the game — but only briefly. The goal was quickly called back, much to the dismay of the Terps.
But the momentum had firmly shifted, and it took Maryland a matter of minutes to equalize.
With just under two minutes remaining in the third, Alina Gerke sent a high ball toward the net that was tapped down by a Rutgers defender. Hope Rose got her stick on the redirect, evaded a defender and put the Terps in front. This accurate finishing was something the Terps had missed in their previous ranked matchups, but a welcome sight for Meharg’s eyes.
“This was pretty much a game of two different teams,” Meharg said. “[In the second half], I thought we were super opportunistic.”
But as the third quarter came to a close, drama ensued. The Terps gave up a penalty corner with just under five seconds to go, and a foul on the corner led to an untimed second penalty corner. On the second, the ball was played to star defender Puck Winter, who lifted a shot past Klebasko. But right before the ball crossed the line, Annemijn Klijnhout came from nowhere and produced a stellar defensive save, holding her stick strong and keeping the ball away.
As the fourth quarter began, Maryland appeared far more likely to score; it was only a matter of time. And sure enough, Klijnhout drew a penalty shot with just under 8:30 left in the game. Josie Hollamon stepped up, hesitated slightly on her run up and drove the ball into the right side of the goal for her second of the season.
“I [was] just trying to be calm and composed up there. I had a lot of time to think before she got there, so I was just thinking I need to nail this so we can get our momentum up and win the game,” Hollamon said.
With the second goal behind them, the Terps played in a much more confident and free-flowing manner, not giving the Scarlet Knights a chance to control the ball the way they had previously. Just two minutes later, that play was rewarded.
A penalty corner, won once again by Klijnhout, was swung in by Emma DeBerdine straight to Ella Gaitan. Gaitan put a low ball back in, which Niswonger reached first, using her stick to arc the redirection into the top corner and give the Terps room to breathe in the final six minutes.
Those breaths were not easy, however. Rutgers pulled their goalie with over four minutes remaining in a bid to come back, and their aggression resulted in another penalty corner. Guillermina Causarano put the ball in for Rutgers, and after a quick pass, Anna Cogdell returned the Terps’ advantage to one with a fierce strike with 25 seconds left on the clock.
Rutgers won the ball off the restart in play and advanced up the field quickly, looking to find a shock equalizer, but Ericka Morris-Adams met the attack with strong defending and brought the ball back to her own corner to run out the clock and secure the win.
“We’re learning something everyday with this group,” Meharg said. “I’m just happy to get the result, a first Big Ten win. So, go Terps.”
Three things to know
1. Forced flexibility for the Terps’ starting lineup. Maryland’s two starting-lineup changes from last Sunday are its most all year. Maci Bradford retook her spot from Fleur Knopert, as she returned from injury, and Everett took Wright’s place in light of hers.
2. Another slow start for the Terps. Maryland has now conceded the first goal in four of its opening five matchups against ranked opponents. While it has gone 3-2 in those games, it is a trend Meharg will look to buck as soon as possible.
3. Northwestern up next. Maryland does not play a game this Sunday, so all eyes now turn to the match against No. 1 Northwestern on Friday. The Terps will host the Wildcats at the Plex at 6 p.m. in a game that could define their season.
