No. 11 Maryland field hockey drops first conference game in 2-1 overtime loss to Ohio State

Before last year’s 2-1 loss to Ohio State, Maryland field hockey had won 20 consecutive games against the Buckeyes. Now, the Terps have lost to them two years in a row. 

With three stellar saves from Buckeyes sophomore goalkeeper Maddie Stevens and an overtime game-winning goal from graduate forward Makenna Webster, No. 11 Maryland (6-4, 2-1 Big Ten) lost to Ohio State 2-1 (5-5, 1-1 Big Ten) at Buckeye Varsity Field in Columbus, Ohio.

Webster – who has 12 more goals than any other Buckeye this season – fuels Ohio State’s offense. She took only one shot, but it was the most important of the match.

Stevens and Ohio State’s defense were sturdy, conceding only nine shots. Stevens entered the game ranking fourth in the Big Ten with 32 saves. 

Three of Ohio State’s losses this season have come in overtime, but they bucked that trend in this game, scoring the winning goal with just over three minutes left in overtime. 

The Buckeyes held an advantage over the Terps in corners (nine to six) and shots (13 to nine). With these ample opportunities, Ohio State was able to score on both a corner and a shot on goal.

After three failed penalty corners during the second half, a fourth corner opportunity presented itself, and Ohio State freshman forward Raleigh Kerst was able to slip the ball past junior goalkeeper Alyssa Klebasko on a rebound. The goal bumped her up to second on the team in points.

The first penalty corner went to the Buckeyes with 8:25 left in the game. Ohio State’s momentum was lost, however, after Webster drove, but the ball bounced off a player’s stick and deflected toward the midfield.

The second penalty corner came after Ohio State drove and established a rhythm, but the shot went wide and out of bounds.

Ohio State’s third penalty corner resulted in a wide shot from junior midfielder Anne Marie Krebs.

Maryland was able to knot the game with just over 10 minutes left in the fourth quarter. Sophomore midfielder Annemijn Klijnhout scored her first goal of the season with an assist from sophomore midfielder Callie Rogers, her second of the season.

Maryland finally got its first corner with five and a half minutes to go in the second quarter, but it was saved by Stevens, who laid out on the turf to block the shot by Josie Hollamon. 

The Terps earned another corner chance, but the play once again resulted in a diving save from Stevens.

Both defenses held strong in the first two quarters, resulting in no points for the entirety of the first half despite both teams having three penalty corner opportunities.

Maryland has another chance to secure a win this weekend as they go against Michigan State on Sunday at Ralph Young Field in East Lansing, Michigan. The Terps will look to rebuild their once-solid winning streak and put rebound after consecutive losses.