No. 4 Maryland field hockey wins overtime thriller over No. 2 Northwestern, 2-1

After quick goals from both sides to start the game, Maryland and Northwestern headed to overtime tied at one.

Minutes into overtime, midfielder Dani van Rootselaar drove the ball down the field for the Terps.  

Van Rootselaar fired a shot into the goal, slipping through the pads of goalkeeper Annabel Skubisz into the backboard, giving the Terps the 2-1 victory over their Big Ten rival as the Terps flooded the field in celebration. 

No. 4 Maryland field hockey squared off against No. 2 Northwestern in a top-five conference matchup.

The first penalty corner attempt of the game came early for the Wildcats less than three minutes in.

Alia Marshall sent the ball into Bente Baekers, who fired the ball into the top of the net over goalkeeper Paige Kieft to give Northwestern an early 1-0 lead. Baekers entered the game leading the Big Ten with 17 goals. 

Maryland responded just over a minute later on a penalty corner attempt.

Emma DeBerdine inserted the ball to Maura Verleg, who set up the shot for van Rootselaar. Van Rootselaar drilled the ball towards the goal, deflecting off a Wildcats defender and into the goal past goalkeeper Skubisz. Van Rootselaar entered the game after scoring two penalty corner goals Friday against Iowa, including the game-winner in overtime.  

Northwestern drove the ball down the field with a little over two minutes left in the first quarter. Maddie Zimmer fired a shot toward Kieft, with the ball trickling past her. Defender Riley Donnelly poked the ball out from reaching the goal right before crossing over the line, keeping the game tied.

The call was confirmed by the officials after a lengthy review, as the ball just missed the goal line. 

At the end of the first, both teams attempted two shots, both on goal. 

The Terps started the second quarter aggressive as Leah Crouse fired an early shot from the right towards Skubisz, but the shot was saved. 

Maryland received the first penalty corner attempt of the second quarter with 8:19 left. DeBerdine inserted the ball to van Rootselaar, who couldn’t convert on the attempt as her shot missed wide of the goal. 

Neither team scored in the second. Three Maryland shots missed the mark after the penalty corner attempt. 

At the half, Maryland led in shots taken 8:3. Skubisz registered four saves in the half, while Kieft added two herself. 

Maryland opened the second half aggressively as van Rootselaar and Sophie Klautz fired two shots at Skubisz in the first two minutes of the half, but both shots were saved. 

Maryland received its third penalty corner 2:40 into the quarter, but Crouse couldn’t get a shot off and Northwestern gained possession.

Maryland received another corner chance moments later when van Rootselaar was obstructed on her way to the goal. DeBerdine inserted the ball into van Rootselaar, but Skubisz registered her seventh save of the game as van Rootselaar failed to find the corner of the goal.

With 4:30 left in the third quarter, Zimmer navigated through multiple Maryland defenders, crossing through Verleg which forced Crouse to foul her, giving the Wildcats a penalty corner opportunity. Marshall inserted the ball to Baekers, but her shot was blocked by Maryland’s defense. Midfielder Lauren Wadas attempted another shot for Northwestern, but that shot was blocked by the Maryland defense as well. 

Neither side scored in the third as the two teams entered the fourth tied at one. Maryland entered the fourth with a seven-shot advantage over the Wildcats.

Seconds into the fourth, Northwestern received the first corner in the period. Peyton Halsey’s shot was wide of the goal, keeping the game tied one. 

Maryland received its first penalty corner attempt minutes later. Shots from Margo Lawn and Bibi Donraadt were both saved by Skubisz. On the next attempt, van Rootselaar attempted two shots but none converted and Skubisz came up with her tenth save of the game. 

With under 12 minutes left, Wadas received a yellow card, giving the Terps a fielder advantage. The Terps were unable to convert on the Wadas yellow card.

The Terps received another penalty corner attempt with 8:40 left in regulation. DeBerdine inserted the ball to Crouse, who sent it to van Rootselaar, but her shot was blocked by the Northwestern defense. 

Northwestern received its first penalty corner with 6:06 left, but Maryland defender Rayne Wright deflected a Baekers shot high over the goal to keep the game tied. 

Maryland got the next penalty corner with 4:04 left in the quarter, but Crouse’s shot was deflected away by Wadas, stalling the penalty corner attempt. 

Neither team scored the rest of the quarter, sending the game to overtime. It was the second straight overtime game for both teams, both coming off overtime wins. 

Maryland has won all three overtime meetings with Northwestern, the last coming in 2019 off a DeBerdine game-winner. 

With 7:55 left in the first overtime period, van Rootselaar drove the field for Maryland. Van Rootselaar fired a shot through the pads of Skubisz into the goal, giving Maryland the 2-1 overtime victory. The goal was the second straight overtime game winner for Van Rootselaar. 

Maryland will look to maintain its undefeated record in conference play when the Terps return home to play Indiana on Friday.