No. 4 Maryland field hockey defeats No. 14 Boston College in a tight contest, 3-1

Up 2-1 in the fourth quarter, Maryland went onto attack, searching for an insurance goal as the clock dwindled down.

Hope Rose found Bibi Donraadt on a fastbreak push, who sent it into the back of the net, extending the lead to 3-1 to ensure the victory for the Terps.

Facing their first ranked opponent this season, Maryland showed up for the challenge. Newton, Massachusetts was home to a high powered field hockey contest, as No. 4 Maryland defeated No. 14 Boston College 3-1 in the B1G/ACC Cup. 

“It’s nice to win games, but the biggest message is the quality of hockey,” head coach Missy Meharg said. “People had good shots, took good shots, and were able to get on the board against a pretty experienced goalie.”

Maryland got out to a fast start against the 14th-ranked Eagles.

Less than three minutes into the contest, forward Margot Lawn sprinted up the field and found an open Rose. The sophomore forward fired and found the bottom left corner of the net, putting the Terps ahead 1-0. Rose’s goal was her third of the season.

Moments later, Boston College answered quickly thanks to a penalty corner. Forward Margo Carlin sent the corner to Juliette Hijdra, and the junior midfielder set the ball perfectly for Peyton Hale. 

Hale took a couple steps forward and ripped one past the diving Christina Calandra, tying the score at one apiece.

“It’s about how we [could] bounce back from that, and I think the team stayed present,” Calandra said. “We were able to just work the ball around the midfield and get goals against them.”

Boston College looked to gain momentum in a tight contest, playing aggressively in the offensive zone.

With around five minutes left in the first quarter, Martina Giachino fired a shot to give the Eagles their first lead of the match, but Calandra stretched her right leg out for the save.

Maryland’s first penalty corner came with six minutes left in the quarter, but the shot by Nathalie Fiechter got blocked by the Eagles’ defense. 

Despite outshooting Boston College 3:2, Maryland entered the second quarter tied with the Eagles, 1-1.

The Terps’ second opportunity at a penalty corner came at the 5:20 mark of the second quarter. 

Midfielder Dani Van Rootselaar’s shot was blocked, but Maryland was awarded another chance as the ball was blocked with a Boston College face mask.

The next attempt from Van Rootselaar missed just wide of the goal, keeping the score tied.

Only a few minutes later, the Terps worked the ball back towards the goal and set up their offense when Lawn found Leah Crouse. Crouse tapped the ball into the back of the net for her first goal of the season, giving the Terps a 2-1 lead.

The Terps were awarded another penalty corner later in the third, but good Boston College defense kept the Eagles in striking distance down by one.

Neither team scored the rest of the quarter, sending the match to halftime with Maryland ahead 2-1.

Maryland held a 9:4 advantage in shots at halftime.

The Eagles failed to convert on opportunities in the third quarter.

Four minutes into the quarter, Hale’s shot off a penalty corner was blocked. Only a minute later, Carlin attempted another shot for the Eagles, but it missed wide.

Boston College attempted another penalty corner moments later, but again failed to convert as Hale’s attempt was denied by the Maryland defense.

Midfielder Sophie Klautz appeared to have a perfect shot to raise the Terps lead to two, but a kick save by goalkeeper Carine Van Wiechen prevented the opportunity.

Early in the fourth, Boston College attempted another penalty corner. 

Carlin sent it to midfielder Kendall Hanlon, who put air into her attempt, but the elevated shot was blocked by the Terps defense.

A few minutes later, Maryland was awarded a penalty corner and took advantage of it with a goal, but their successful goal was overturned after a review. 

Maryland bounced back from the overturned penalty corner when Rose lined up Donraadt with a pass. Donraadt hit it past Van Weichen in the opposite direction, finding the bottom left corner to extend the Terps’ lead to 3-1.

“We were able to get in through their defense a lot,” Meharg said.

Boston College was gifted a penalty corner soon after the Donraadt goal, but Calandra came up with her second save of the contest, denying the Boston College opportunity to bring the game within one.

Neither side scored during the final minutes of the match as the Terps held on to secure their third win of the season.

Maryland will continue their play in the B1G/ACC Cup Sunday when they face No. 18 Duke at 12 p.m.