No. 3 Maryland field hockey defeats No. 13 Liberty in double-overtime, 2-1, advances to NCAA Tournament Second Round

With 7:41 left in the second overtime period, defender Riley Donnelly squared up with a penalty stroke and the game on the line. The Maryland offense generated opportunities all game long, but the Terps couldn’t convert heading into the second overtime period tied at one. 

The Terps looked to shake off demons of their 3-2 double-overtime loss to the Flames the year prior in the Final Four.

Against Donnelly was goalkeeper Azul Iritxity Irigoyen, who had stopped nearly every shot before her in the game.

Donnelly fired her attempt into the right corner of the goal, this time past Iritxity Irigoyen as the Terps stormed the field. 

No. 2 Maryland avenged its Final Four loss, defeating No. 13 Liberty in double-overtime, 2-1.

“Most of us were in that game but also this year,” Donnelly said. “We’re a new team and of course we’re looking for revenge, but you know, it’s another game in the NCAA Tournament. It was Liberty, and to win and move on, survive and advance, that’s what the postseason is all about.”

Maryland’s first scoring opportunity came about three minutes in. Midfielder/forward Leah Crouse fired a shot during a fast break, but Irixity Irigoyen saved the scoring attempt.

Irixity Irigoyen entered with 58 saves and a 74.4% save percentage.

The Terps received their first penalty corner moments later, but forward Hope Rose’s shot deflected off the post. 

The next penalty corner for the Terps didn’t go as planned as well. Midfielder Emma DeBerdine’s insertion was not picked up by anyone, allowing the Flames to snatch the ball away, halting the attempt. 

The Flames received their first corner attempt with 5:01 left in the first. Defender Jodie Conolly’s shot was deflected wide of the goal, keeping the game scoreless. 

Maryland outshot Liberty 4:1 at the end of the first but Iritxity Irigoyen made life hard for the Terps, registering 2 saves, including a diving kicking stop on the Maryland offense. 

Maryland again outshot the Flames in the second, holding the Flames to no shots while the Terps attempted three of their own. Yet, the Terps were unable to convert on any of their shots, entering the half in a scoreless tie.

The first penalty corner of the second quarter for the Terps was unsuccessful again as Iritxity Irigoyen recorded another save.

Iritxity Irigoyen finished the game with 12 saves. 

The scoring opportunity came with under four minutes to go when midfielder Dani van Rootselaar navigated through multiple Liberty defenders on the left side of the pitch. Van Rootselaar fired a shot that clanked off the top post for the Terps — another missed scoring opportunity for Maryland.

At the half, Maryland recorded two more corner attempts, but Iritxity Irigoyen’s four saves stifled the Maryland offense. 

Maryland’s offense opened the second half aggressively, continuously moving the ball down the field.

Midfielder Bibi Donraadt rocketed two shots in the opening three minutes of the half, but Iritxity Irigoyen saved both tries. 

With 10:37 left, the Flames received their second penalty corner of the game. 

Defender Bethany Dykema inserted the ball to midfielder Reagan Underwood, who set up the shot for Conolly. With no hesitation at all, Conolly fired the ball into the goal past goalkeeper Christina Calandra to give the Flames a 1-0 lead.

The score was the first shot on goal for Liberty. 

The Terps got an opportunity to match moments later with a pair of penalty corner attempts, but both shots by Rose and van Rootselaar were blocked by the energized Liberty defense, keeping the deficit at one. 

With just under two minutes remaining, van Rootselaar weaved through the Liberty defense, driving a shot that was saved by Iritxity Irigoyen. Forward Margot Lawn picked up the deflection and fired a shot from the right side past Iritxity Irigoyen to tie the game at one. 

“I think our three captains were amazing — Emma Deberdine, Bibi Donraadt, and Dani van Rootselaar,” coach Missy Meharg said. “I’m just so impressed with the leadership.”

The Terps earned a penalty stroke with 3:45 to go after Crouse was tripped by a Liberty defender. Rose fired a shot to the left corner of the goal, but Iritxity Irigoyen came up with a leaping save to prevent the score. 

Neither team scored in the closing minutes, sending the game to overtime.

The Terps received a pair of penalty corners less than two minutes into overtime. The shot by defender Maura Verleg on the first attempt was blocked by the defense, and on the second attempt, Iritxity Irigoyen registered another save on a Crouse attempt. 

Their next corner attempt came with 3:54 left in the period. Lawn had an open shot in front of the goal to win it, but waited too long to shoot as Iritxity Irigoyen recorded her 11th save of the game. 

The Terps controlled the ball in overtime with four more shots than the Flames, but neither side scored, sending the game to a second overtime period. 

The Terps received their second penalty stroke of the game with 7:41 left in the second overtime period, and this time Donnelly attempted the shot. Donnelly fired a shot into the right corner of the goal, sending the Terps into the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament.

“We went through blocks of time where we have key players that were out for months at a time, we’re on full cylinders,” Meharg said. “Now we’re still getting back to that pace. It’s an exciting time.”

Maryland will now set its eyes on the winner of the Princeton-Syracuse bout, playing the victor Sunday at 1 p.m. in College Park.