No. 3 Maryland field hockey stays undefeated, downs No. 12 Harvard, 2-1

Six minutes into the second quarter, Harvard got on the scoreboard first, as midfielder Siodra Murdoch’s shot beat Maryland goalie Christina Calandra on the Crimson’s second penalty corner attempt of the game. 

As the Crimson gathered at the top of the circle to celebrate the goal, the Terps recognized they would be facing a deficit against a ranked opponent for the second straight game.

Reminiscent to their last game against Duke, No. 3 Maryland had an answer to the deficit, going on to defeat No. 12 Harvard, 2-1.    

“I think what I like in terms of responding is that we don’t get panicked,” head coach Missy Meharg said. “They don’t get rattled, and that’s a nice thing to say.”

The win improved the Terps to 5-0.

The highly regarded Crimson defense was shown on display in the first quarter, holding the high scoring Terps to only two shot attempts in the first. Maryland put its defense on display as well, holding Harvard to no shot attempts. 

Moments into the second quarter, the Terps worked the ball towards the goal. Midfielder Sophie Klautz attempted a shot towards the right side of the goal, only for Harvard goalkeeper Ellie Shahbo to come up with a diving save.

Roughly four minutes into the second, Maryland received its first scoring opportunity of the game when the Terps were awarded a penalty corner. However, forward Hope Rose’s shot towards the goal was blocked by Shahbo, keeping the game scoreless.

The Terps received their second penalty corner of the game moments later, but Shahbo dove to her right to save a shot by midfielder Dani van Rootselaar. 

Harvard attempted its first penalty corner at the 9:10 mark of the second. Defender Mazarine Broze sent in the ball to fellow defender Bronte-May Brough, but her shot was blocked by the Maryland defense.

“We knew they were going to come in here after going to overtime with Miami [and] losing to Connecticut, really ready to go,” Meharg said.

The Crimson’s second penalty corner put them on the board first. Broze sent the ball into midfielder Kitty Chapple, who set up Murdoch for the shot. Murdoch fired the shot past Calandra, putting Harvard ahead 1-0.

Maryland answered back moments later. Midfielder Leah Crouse beat Shahbo with a shot towards the left side of the net, tying the game with her third score of the season. 

Harvard attempted another penalty corner with about a minute and half left in the quarter, but a mistake on the set up faltered the Crimson’s scoring opportunity. 

At the half, the Terps led in shot attempts 5:2, with four of their shots on goal. 

The third quarter started slow for both teams. Neither Harvard nor Maryland attempted a shot ten minutes into the period.

With minutes left in the third, Crouse intercepted the ball from a Harvard defender. Crouse drilled the ball from the left side of the net past Shahbo into the goal, giving Maryland the lead with her second goal of the game. 

Maryland stayed aggressive in the fourth, attempting to extend its lead to two. Midfielder Bibi Donraadt and defender Muara Verleg attempted shots that were saved by Shahbo, giving herself her fifth and sixth saves of the game.

Meharg had high praise for Shahbo after the game.

“If you hit it right at her, she’s gonna make the save,” Meharg said. “She’s not going to miss something.”

Harvard pulled Shahbo from the game with three minutes left to give them an extra fielder. 

Maryland was awarded a penalty corner with a minute left with an empty net for Harvard. Van Rootselaar’s shot on the attempt was blocked by the defense, but it didn’t matter as the clock ticked down to triple zeroes, and the Terps won, 2-1. 

Following the game against Harvard, the Terps will face New Hampshire Sunday at 2 p.m. their second game of the Terrapin Invitational.