Moments into the third, Ohio State forward Sarah Charley received the ball on a penalty corner from midfielder Emma Goldean. Charley’s shot deflected against the foot of defender Ericka Morris-Adams, who entered the game after winning B1G Freshman of the Week.
The ball bounced past goalkeeper Paige Kieft, giving the Buckeyes a 2-1 lead over the Terps.
Trailing, the Terps then faced their first deficit in the second half all season. Like they have in previous games however, Maryland adjusted to its opponent in the second half, coming up with three goals in the fourth quarter.
No. 3 Maryland field hockey battled against No. 23 Ohio State in its conference opener. The Terps used a strong fourth quarter to down the Buckeyes, 4-2. The win improved Maryland to 7-0, while the Buckeyes dropped to 3-2.
“We worked really hard on being present and you have to practice that and today was a great opportunity,” coach Missy Meharg said. “Every game in the Big Ten is going to be like this. It’s Big Ten hockey.”
The Buckeyes entered with the fewest goals allowed and the best save percentage among all Division One schools. That Ohio State defense was displayed in the first quarter, as two of Maryland’s four shots were saved by the stout Buckeyes defense.
The Terps’ first scoring opportunity came roughly three minutes into the game on a penalty corner. Midfielder Kylee Niswonger sent the ball in for a shot by forward Hope Rose, but Rose’s shot was blocked by the defense.
Maryland was awarded another penalty corner but defender Rayne Wright’s shot missed just wide of the goal.
Goldean and Megan McKenna were unsuccessful for the Buckeyes as the first quarter ended scoreless for both teams. Ohio State attempted no penalty corners in the first.
In the opening minutes of the second quarter, Maryland had two great scoring opportunities but could not prevail. Midfielder Sophie Klautz drove the ball up the field and rocketed a pass towards the goal that missed wide. Moments later, Buckeyes goalkeeper Abby Danson came up with a diving save on a shot from Rose.
Maryland made up for the missed opportunities with a penalty corner at the 11:02 mark of the second quarter. Midfielder Emma DeBerdine sent the ball as midfielder Dani van Rootselaar had the shot set up. Van Rootselaar drilled a rocket into the backboard of the goal to give Maryland a 1-0 lead.
The Buckeyes responded moments later as midfielder Hallie Brost entered a one-on-one with Kieft. Brost flicked the ball into the top left corner, beating Kieft to tie the game up at one goal apiece.
The Buckeyes lost a player after backer Katie Fichtner received a yellow card. However, the Terps were unable to capitalize on the advantage as four shots missed the mark. Danson came up with two saves during the five-minute suspension.
Danson came up with another save later in the period off a van Rootselaar shot.
The first half ended tied at one apiece. The Terps led in shots taken 13:3 with seven shots on goal, but were unable to capitalize on their scoring opportunities. Danson recorded six saves in the half for Ohio State.
Ohio State received its first penalty corner of the game just minutes into the second half, and a Charley goal put the Buckeyes ahead 2-1.
Klautz received a five minute yellow card moments after the goal, but the Terps’ defense held up in her absence, allowing only one Buckeye shot that missed wide.
Maryland was awarded its first penalty corner of the quarter with two minutes remaining, but it was halted after a stopper violation.
The Terps’ offense struggled against the Buckeyes’ defense in the third, only attempting three shots. None of the Terps’ shots were on goal in the period.
Maryland received its first penalty corner of the fourth three minutes in. Danson came up with a diving save off a Klautz shot, but the ball got stuck under her, giving the Terps a penalty stroke.
Rose attempted the stroke for the Terps, beating Danson to the left corner of the cage. The goal was Rose’s seventh of the season, and it tied the game, 2-2.
“Hope is really great at taking penalty strokes,” defender Riley Donnelly said. “The team had so much confidence in her.”
Moments after the penalty stroke goal, Maryland drove the ball back down the field. Van Rootselaar beat Danson with a pass behind her, and Crouse tapped the ball into the open goal to give Maryland a 3-2 lead. The score was Maryland’s second in less than two minutes.
Ohio State received its second penalty corner of the game with under nine minutes left in the game. The shot from midfielder Claudia Thomas was blocked on the corner attempt, preserving Maryland’s lead.
The Buckeyes emptied their net for an extra fielder with five minutes remaining in the game.
The Terps took advantage of the empty net when van Rootselaar fired the ball past backer Sarah Richards,in place of the goalkeeper, to extend Maryland’s lead to three for the final score of 4-2.
“It was just a matter of timing and having more patience,” Meharg said. “We changed up the press in the front field… We played this kind of point defense and then put all the pressure on their side backs.”
Maryland will return to action on Tuesday as the Terps face off on the road against No. 8 Princeton.
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