No. 2 Maryland field hockey defeats No. 13 UConn in double-overtime thriller, 2-1

With almost five minutes to go in the second overtime period, tied at one, forward Hope Rose drove the ball down the right side of the goal. The talented sophomore drew the attention of UConn goalkeeper Cheyenne Sprecher, drawing her out the goal. 

Midfielder Bibi Donraadt noticed and snuck up to the front left side of the goal, receiving a pass from Rose.

Donraadt juggled the pass before tapping it into the goal, lifting the Terps over the Huskies. 

“Very exciting, happy that we were able to close it down in the second overtime,” Donraadt said. “I’m very excited actually that we were able to play so many overtimes because in [the] postseason you have to be ready for those kind[s] of situations.”

No. 2 Maryland field hockey finished the season strong with a 2-1 double-overtime victory over No. 13 UConn in its season finale. 

Maryland was without midfielder Emma Deberdine for the fifth straight game due to an injury — a notable piece on the Terps offense. The senior captain has recorded five goals and four assists for the Terps this season, racking up two game winning goals in the process.

UConn started the game with a string of three penalty corners within the first four minutes. However, Maryland stalled each attempt, as all three shots from freshman forward Julia Bressler missed the mark.

Bressler, the younger sister of senior Maryland midfielder Belle Bressler, has had an amazing season for the Huskies this year. Bressler entered with a team-high seven goals.

Maryland received its first penalty corner of the game moments later. Donraadt inserted the ball to fellow midfielder Dani van Rootselaar, but her shot was blocked by the UConn defense.

Midfielder/forward Leah Crouse received a green card for the Terps with 6:57 left in the first quarter, but the Huskies could not take advantage of the penalty as both teams exited the first quarter scoreless. 

UConn outshot the Terps 4:2 in the first, and both starting goalkeepers registered a save each. 

Senior Christina Calandra got the starting nod for the Terps in her second game back in the starting lineup. Calandra started the first five games for the Terps before being pulled in favor of Paige Kieft. Calandra made her return to the lineup last Wednesday against Virginia following a 5-1 loss to No. 3 Penn State. 

“Christina, she’s mature,” coach Missy Meharg said. “She’s confident she’s giving confidence to the defense. She’s making saves.”

The second quarter was ugly for the Terps, as they allowed six penalty corner attempts while receiving none themselves. 

Less than two minutes in, the Huskies received their second corner attempt of the quarter. Midfielder Sol Simon inserted the ball to midfielder Madison Dipietro, who set up the shot for backer Claire Jandewerth. Jandewerth delivered a straightaway shot past Calandra into the right corner of the cage to put the Huskies ahead 1-0.

“They had some very good, low defense,” Donraadt said. “It’s exciting to play a team with a little bit of a different style of hockey that we have seen so far.”

The Terps were unable to match the goal, entering the half down by one, 1-0. UConn outshot Maryland 10:8 in the first half.

Sprecher recorded four saves in the half, and finished the game with five.

The Terps started the second half aggressive, receiving the first penalty corner 2:19 in. Van Rootselaar’s shot was blocked by the defense, but Maryland’s next attempt proved more successful.

Donraadt inserted the ball short left to Rose. Rose took the pass directly and blasted a shot into the left corner of the goal past Sprecher to tie the game at one.

UConn could not retake the lead in the fourth, despite van Rootselaar receiving a green card in the period for Maryland. 

After attempting nine penalty corners in the first half, the Terps held UConn to none in the third quarter.  

Not much action occurred in the fourth quarter, as both teams attempted only one shot, and the game was sent to overtime.

After attempting nine penalty corners in the first half, the Maryland defense stiffened up. The Terps held the Huskies to only two attempts in the second half. 

The Terps opened overtime with two penalty corner attempts, but both shots by van Rootselaar were unsuccessful. 

Defender Maura Verleg received a green card minutes later, but neither side scored, sending the match to a second overtime period. 

The other double-overtime game of the season for the Terps was a 4-3 defeat to Princeton on Sep. 20.

Roughly halfway through the second overtime period, Donraadt fired a shot into an uncovered goal to win the game for the Terps. The goal was Donraadt’s tenth of the season, and her second game-winning goal of the season. 

Maryland’s focus now shifts to the Big Ten tournament. No. 2-seed Maryland is set to face No. 7-seed Ohio State in the first round on Thursday. Maryland previously defeated the Buckeyes 4-2 on Sep. 16.