No. 3 Maryland field hockey falls late to No. 20 Duke, 2-1

No. 3 Maryland field hockey was stuck in a defensive battle with No. 20 Duke.

Then the Blue Devils received a massive chance on a penalty corner with less than a minute remaining. They didn’t waste the opportunity, as Logan Clouser scored the dagger to shock the Terps.

Coming off a California stretch which saw it win three-straight to open the season, Maryland (3-1) suffered its first loss of the campaign to Duke (2-0) in its first game of the B1G/ACC cup, 2-1.

In their first time not only playing in a newly renovated field hockey complex Maryland made sure to set the tone early.

The Terps wasted no time getting the party started as graduate student Ashlyn Carr netted her first goal of the year — and as a Terp — less than 30 seconds in, giving the Terps a quick 1-0 lead. Freshman Maci Bradford registered the assist for her eighth point on the young campaign. 

The Terps completely stifled the Blue Devils on the defensive end in the first quarter, as Duke failed to register a single shot attempt for the entire duration. But the Blue Devils’ offense started to show signs of life early in the second quarter as Maryland goalkeeper Paige Kieft had to make her first save of the contest.

Maryland’s offense continued to be on the attack in the second quarter, but two saves by Duke’s Piper Hampsch prevented the Terps from adding to their lead as the score remained 1-0 in favor of Maryland at the half.

The Terps’ offense continued their struggles after the break as they failed to convert both of their penalty corners of the third quarter. This allowed for Duke’s offense to awaken as it tied the game on an Alaina McVeigh goal. 

The sides headed into the fourth quarter knotted up at one.

Maryland had a golden opportunity to score just over three minutes into the fourth quarter on a penalty corner, but Sammy Popper’s shot sailed over the goal entirely.

Duke followed that up with a one-on-one breakaway opportunity just over six minutes into the quarter, but Issy Carey was denied by Kieft to keep the game tied.

Despite both Duke and Maryland receiving a pair of penalty corners, the game remained tied at one as Keift continued to step up for the Terps with save after save. 

Keift managed six saves on the day, but couldn’t withstand Duke’s offensive barrage that managed to put up 11 shots and eight shots on goal on the day.

Though Duke’s last penalty corner was the nail-in-the-coffin. Clouser managed to put the ball in the back of the net after a rebound in the midst of the chaos for the game-winning score.

Duke’s defense completely stifled the Maryland offense, holding the Terps to just one shot in the fourth quarter and only two in the entire second half.

Maryland will look to bounce back on Sunday when it takes on No. 20 Boston College.