No. 5 Maryland field hockey stunned by Princeton with late penalty corner, 3-2

With just 34 seconds left in the game, Princeton had a chance to get the last word as it geared up to take the first penalty corner of the quarter.

The Tigers took advantage, as Ottilie Sykes buried the ball in the back of the net to give the Tigers the 3-2 lead and the victory.

Princeton (2-3) stunned No. 5 Maryland field hockey (6-2) in College Park as the Terps failed to come up with any late game heroics.

“We played some of the best hockey we’ve played all year,” coach Missy Meharg said. “Princeton is always well-coached and I applaud them.”

The Tigers forced junior goalie Paige Kieft to make three saves in the first five minutes of the game, including one on the first penalty corner of the game just over four minutes into the quarter.

Maryland stepped on the gas with its own penalty corner, but was unable to capitalize despite both premier penalty shot takers Hope Rose and Josie Hollamon having good chances.

With just over two minutes remaining in the quarter, senior defender Logan Anderson had a wide open shot from the left side, but senior goalie Robyn Thompson made the save for Maryland’s only shot on goal of the quarter.

Maryland had a golden opportunity to score just two minutes later on its second penalty corner, but Hollamon’s shot ultimately went wide to preserve the scoreless tie.

In the face of Maryland’s slow start, the Tigers took advantage. A Princeton player was tripped in the shooting circle, giving the Tigers the penalty stroke and senior defender Sam Davidson the score for a 1-0 lead.

Disaster struck for Maryland just two minutes later. After a Princeton penalty corner, freshman forward Merle Broex got the first goal of her Tiger career to give the team a 2-0 lead.

Just before the end of the quarter, the Terps cut Princeton’s lead in half as a shot from freshman Maci Bradford assisted by Hannah Boss made it a 2-1 game at the midway point.

Maryland’s near-impenetrable defense looked vulnerable throughout the half while also putting Kieft in multiple rough positions.

Maryland’s offensive attack was consistent throughout the half, putting up 16 shots, although Thompson stepped up to make seven saves while weathering eight penalty corners.

“It’s just a matter of execution,” Meharg said. “We’ll keep working on them. It’s a game of inches when it comes to penalty corners.”

After a chaotic first half, Meharg made the decision to replace Kieft with freshman Alyssa Klebasko in net.

The move may have sparked Maryland’s offense, who took hold of the momentum at the beginning of the quarter, culminating in a Maci Bradford goal to tie the game at two.

The goal was Bradford’s second of the game. It was the first multi-goal game of the freshman’s career.

Maryland’s offense remained on the attack, but Princeton’s defense suffocated the Terps for the remainder of the quarter, as the two teams headed to the fourth tied 2-2.

Just over a minute into the fourth, Maryland had a chance to score as junior midfielder Kylee Niswonger was nearly in net with the chance to score. But Thompson was there to make the save for her ninth of the game.

Both teams’ attacks continued to stall in the fourth quarter, until Sammy Popper had a shot on goal only for Thompson to make a brilliant stick save. 

It would be Princeton who got the last word, as freshman defender Ottilie Sykes gave the Tigers the 3-2 victory with her late-game penalty corner shot.

“There’s a lot to take from this,” Meharg said. “We’re gonna be as positive as possible and take that down to Charlottesville.”

Maryland now goes on a long road stretch beginning on Monday at 7 p.m. against Virginia in Charlottesville.