No. 4 Maryland field hockey wins overtime thriller over No. 3 Iowa, 2-1

With the first penalty corner attempt of overtime, midfielder Bibi Donraadt inserted the ball to Maura Verleg, whose costly pass earlier in the game resulted in an Iowa goal. 

Verleg punched the ball to her right to midfielder Dani van Rootselaar, who took a couple steps toward the goal, driving a shot towards the right side. 

The shot bounced off of Iowa goalkeeper Grace McGuire’s pads into the goal, giving the Terps the 2-1 victory over the Hawkeyes. 

No. 4 Maryland battled against No. 3 Iowa in a top-five conference matchup. The Terps looked to stay undefeated in conference play.

The match started slow for both teams as neither recorded a shot attempt in the first 13 minutes. The Hakweyes entered the game boasting one of the top defenses in the nation, allowing only 0.78 goals per game, fewest in the Big Ten. 

The Terps themselves entered with one of the top offenses in the nation, averaging 4.1 goals per game, the most in the Big Ten. 

The first scoring opportunity arrived with 1:27 left in the first period for the Hawkeyes on a penalty corner. Forward Annika Herbine sent the ball into Lokke Stribos, but her shot sailed high and missed the goal.

At the end of the first quarter, Stribos’ shot was the only attempt from either side. 

“We had such a slow start, I’m a little surprised by the stat sheet actually but I just credit our kids,” coach Missy Meharg said. “We were sloppy and fast and I’m just so proud of the team and the coaching staff for grinding it out.”

Maryland’s first opportunity for points came five minutes into the second period. Midfielder Kylee Niswonger passed the ball to van Rooselaar, who tried to send another pass but was intercepted by the Hawkeyes.

The Hawkeyes then marched down the field to the goal, drawing their second penalty corner of the game. Herbine sent the ball to defender Anthe Nijzel, whose shot missed wide left of the goal.

Maryland received its next penalty corner with 6:11 to go in the period. Van Rootselaar attempted two shots on the attempt, both missing. Van Rootselaar’s second shot was saved by McGuire. 

The Terps were unable to convert on their next attempt after midfielder Emma DeBerdine whiffed on the insertion.

The period remained scoreless as both teams entered halftime without a score. The offensive picked up by a small amount in the second period as three total shots were taken after only one in the first.

Van Rootselaar’s saved shot was the only shot on goal in the first half. 

The Hawkeyes received a penalty corner less than two minutes into the second half. Forward Alex Wesneski attempted her first shot of the game but it was blocked by the Maryland defense. Wesneski entered the game leading the Hawkeyes with ten goals, tied with Maryland forward Hope Rose for the second-most in the Big Ten. 

Van Rootselaar attempted another shot with 7:52 left in the quarter but her shot from the right side of the goal missed wide.

With 2:53 left in the third quarter, Verleg attempted to pass the ball upfield right in front of her own goal. Wesneski jumped in front of the pass and snuck the ball into the right corner of the goal past Maryland goalkeeper Paige Kieft, giving the Hawkeyes a 1-0 lead.

The Terps responded moments later with a goal of their own on a penalty corner attempt. Donraadt inserted the ball to Nathalie Fiechter, who set up the shot for van Rootselaar. With one step, van Rootselaar rocketed the ball past McGuire into the left side of the goal, tying the game at one as the teams entered the fourth.

The fourth quarter started slow for both teams as neither attempted a shot in the first seven minutes. 

The Hawkeyes received the first penalty corner attempt of the fourth with three minutes remaining. 

Herbine inserted the ball to Nijziel, whose shot was deflected by Kieft into the post. The ball bounced off the post to Herbine, with an open look at the goal with Kieft sprawled on the other side, but her shot missed wide. 

Neither team scored again in regulation, sending the game to overtime tied at one. 

It was Maryland’s third overtime game of the season. The Terps fell 4-3 against No. 7 Princeton in overtime in September and then bounced back three days later with a 1-0 overtime win over No. 8 Michigan. 

“The first time we went overtime, it was our first time so we weren’t that experienced,” van Rootselaar said. “After we went over to practice and really came up with a good game plan. Basically, everyone has a man and gets drawn in the corner as soon as we can.”

The Terps received the first penalty corner attempt with 6:47 left in overtime. Donraadt inserted the ball to Verleg, who passed it to van Rootselaar. Van Rootselaar’s shot bounced off McGuire’s pads into the goal, giving Maryland the 2-1 victory over Iowa. 

“I didn’t capitalize on the first couple,” van Rootselaar said. “But then hitting from the right side of the corner … just getting it straight down to the coastline. It was hard for them because when the goalie goes down there’s just a post player there.”