No. 11 Maryland field hockey claims 1-0 overtime victory against No. 17 Rutgers

After a scoreless regulation that featured few offensive opportunities, Maryland field hockey swiftly scored in overtime to secure its fifth Big Ten win of the season. 

Backed by a consistent defense, No. 11 Maryland (9-6, 5-3 Big Ten) defeated No. 17 Rutgers 1-0 (8-8, 3-4 Big Ten) at the Bauer Complex in Piscataway, New Jersey .

The contest marked Maryland’s final Big Ten game of the season and its first since dropping consecutive conference matches for the first time this year.

Despite the back and forth of the game Maryland dominated offensively with five shots on goal while Rutgers had none. 

Both teams’ defenses were stout, leading to a scoreless game until four minutes left in overtime.Freshman midfielder Maia Adamson earned the winning goal for the Terps and her first career goal, assisted by sophomore midfielder Annemijn Klijnhout.

Maryland averages 1.04 goals allowed per game (second in the Big Ten), while Rutgers allows 1.63 on average (fifth in the Big Ten), though that figure is weighed down by two recent outliers. The Scarlet Knights conceded four goals against No. 11 Iowa and five scores to No. 1 Northwestern. 

Rutgers’ redshirt freshman Emily Nicholls had two saves in the first half of the game, stopping both of Maryland’s shots on goal. Her save percentage this season is 78.9%, which ranks 11th nationally.

At the end of the fourth quarter, Maryland had a chance to snatch a victory and prevent overtime with two consecutive penalty corners. Nicholls once again stifled the Terps, sending the match to an extra period.

After Rutgers’ initial scoring opportunities, Maryland’s defense held them to one shot in the second and third quarter.

Much of the first half was played between the 25-yard lines. The teams combined for six shots through 30 minutes.

Maryland finally earned a scoring opportunity on a penalty corner, but failed to convert it.

With 5:03 left in the first quarter, Rutgers was also rewarded with a penalty corner. Both graduate defender Paulina Niklaus and freshman defender Martha Goodridge fired shots, but Maryland’s defense blocked them.

The first quarter was slow for both teams, with a combined three shots between them. The most significant opportunities came for Rutgers with consecutive corners, but they yielded no goals.

The game was not only a quality matchup between two strong teams, but two strong coaches as well. Rutgers head coach Meredith Civico is a Maryland alum and helped the Terps win the 2005 ACC title and 2005 NCAA National Championship. 

Civico has coached the Scarlet Knights for 14 seasons, matching up with her alma mater and former coach Missy Meharg throughout her entire coaching career.

Maryland now has two more games before the Big Ten Tournament. The Terps will face No. 3 Virginia, their 10th ranked opponent of the year, on Tuesday.