Maryland field hockey falls in double-overtime in Big Ten championship to Northwestern, 1-0

After nearly two overtimes of missed opportunities and a game of scoreless play, it was Olivia Bent-Cole who had the ball on the baseline against Maryland field hockey’s defense.

Bent-Cole was able to penetrate the Terps’ defense and get the dagger past Alyssa Klebasko in the cage to break a scoreless tie that had lasted for over 75 minutes.

Bent-Cole’s score gave No. 1 Northwestern the title over No. 8 Maryland in the Big Ten championship on Sunday, 1-0.

“To compete in the final was a desired step and something we wanted to do from last year,” coach Missy Meharg said. “We had good opportunities, we had good looks, but I applaud Northwestern.”

Unlike in last meeting’s blowout loss for the Terps, their defensive front came out strong against the potent Wildcats attack.

Klebasko had a busy first quarter, making four saves by the end of the frame. Klebasko’s quarter was highlighted on a pair of consecutive saves on a Northwestern penalty corner just under 12 minutes in.

The Wildcats continuously drew penalty corners throughout the game. Yet they failed to convert on any of them. 

Northwestern’s best penalty corner came just over four minutes into the third quarter. Lauren Wadas managed to get a shot past Klebasko, but Hannah Boss stepped up to make the defensive save and maintain the scoreless tie.

Maryland’s defense stopped a flurry of penalty corner attempts at the end of the third frame. Klebasko saved the final look to enter the fourth quarter with both sides still stuck at zero. Klebasko finished the game with nine saves.

The Wildcats’ best chance for a potential game-winning score in the fourth quarter came from Bent-Cole with less than two minutes to go in regulation, but her shot went wide, effectively sending the two teams to overtime tied at zero. 

Northwestern’s offense endured struggles in converting on looks — it got off 22 shots and 11 shots on goal — but Bent-Cole’s game-winner overcame the Wildcats’ issues offensively.

“I’m sure Alyssa will look at it later and be like shoulda woulda, but at the same time we lost that player up around the 25 yard line,” Meharg said. “It’s just what it is.”

Unlike their opposition, the Terps’ offense failed to even get off many looks throughout the duration of the game. Northwestern goalkeeper Annabel Skubisz only needed to make five saves.

Maryland’s lone shot and shot-on-goal of the first frame came from Ashlyn Carr less than three minutes in, though Skubisz stepped up to make the save. The Terps then went shot-less for 17 minutes.

Their best chance to score in the first half came on their first penalty corner of the game with less than a minute left before halftime. But Maura Verleg’s shot was blocked by the Wildcats as the defensive battle continued.

Maryland’s offensive attack struggled to build any momentum against Northwestern’s defense through the first half. It only managed three shots through the first 30 minutes.

The Wildcats held the Terps without a shot for the entirety of the fourth quarter. Maryland’s offense found very few opportunities to score in regulation with only four shots, and the Terps simply couldn’t strike on any of their chances.

The Terps’ second penalty corner didn’t come until the second overtime. Boss’s shot was deflected high, keeping the game going. Boss’ penalty corner just a couple minutes later was blocked — the last opportunity their offense had before Bent-Cole’s winning goal.

Maryland will look to regroup as it heads into the NCAA tournament and awaits news of its first round matchup.

“We had a great tournament, we’ve learned so much from this tournament,” Meharg said. “We had chances to win this game and to raise the trophy, it just didn’t go our way.”