Preview: No. 2 Maryland field hockey prepares for second round matchup against No. 8 Syracuse

No. 2 Maryland field hockey looks to advance to the NCAA Tournament Semifinals against No. 8 Syracuse on Sunday.

The Terps are coming off a 2-1 overtime win in the first round against No. 13 Liberty. The game was a rematch of last year’s semifinals matchup, when the Flames came out on top, 3-2 in double-overtime. 

Liberty got on the board first after a scoreless first half, but Maryland responded with under two minutes to go in the third quarter when senior forward Margot Lawn ripped a shot into the goal past junior goalkeeper Azul Iritixity Irigoyen to tie the game at one. 

Maryland outshot Liberty 22-6 in regulation and the first overtime period, yet couldn’t take a lead. Neither side scored again, sending the game to a second overtime period. 

In the opening minutes of the period, Maryland received its second penalty stroke of the game, looking to capitalize on the opportunity to advance.

Graduate student defender Riley Donnelly stepped up for the Terps, firing a shot to the right past Iritxity Irigoyen to send the Terps to the next round.

“You just gotta find a will,” coach Missy Meharg said. “You gotta impose your will and you gotta finish when it matters.” 

Maryland exhibits one of the best offenses in the nation, averaging 3.71 goals per game. 

Sophomore forward Hope Rose leads the charge for the Maryland offense, scoring 14 goals in the regular season, the third most in the Big Ten. The 2021 Big Ten Freshman of the Year has also added eight assists.

Donnelly and graduate student midfielder Bibi Donraadt have also contributed for the Maryland offense this season. Donraadt has registered 10 goals and a team-high 12 assists so far. Donnelly became an offensive weapon in the second half of the season, scoring eight of her nine goals in Maryland’s past nine games. 

Graduate student midfielder Dani van Rootselaar and graduate student midfielder/forward Leah Crouse have been huge additions for the Terps this season. Van Rootselaar, a Brown transfer, recorded 12 goals, including a four-goal weekend featuring overtime game-winners against No. 3 Northwestern and No. 11 Iowa. Crouse, a Duke transfer, has been clutch as well for the Terps with five game-winning goals as part of a 10 goal season.

Defensively the Terps allow an average of 1.48 goals per game. Their defense is anchored by senior goalkeeper Christina Calandra. Calandra allowed only 0.88 goals against average, and recorded 28 saves on the season. 

Freshman defender Ericka Morris-Adams stepped in for the Terps immediately this season, winning Big Ten Co-Freshman of the Year for her efforts on the pitch. 

“We’re growing every day,” Meharg said. “We’re on full cylinders … it’s an exciting time.”

Syracuse enters the game after going 16-5 in its previous 21 games and defeating No. 7 Princeton 5-1 in the first round. 

The game was tied 2-2 at halftime, but the Orange pulled away with a three goal effort in the second half. 

Senior forward Charlotte de Vries scored her second goal of the game to put the Orange ahead 3-2 in the opening minutes of the third quarter. De Vries has recorded 14 goals and 12 assists on the season.

Junior backer Eefke van den Nieuwenhof and graduate student midfielder/forward Sabine van den Eijnden added two more goals in the fourth quarter to stretch Syracuse’s lead to the final score of 5-2. Van den Niewenhof has recorded nine goals on the season while van den Eijnden added another eight. 

The Orange offer a dynamic offense in addition to Maryland, averaging 3.43 goals per game. Graduate student forward Quirine Comans leads the offense with 16 goals and nine assists. 

Defensively, the Orange allow an average of 1.57 goals per game. Sophomore Brooke Borzymowski starts in goal for the Orange. Borzymowski has registered 67 on 163 shots faced.

The game will be played in College Park as Maryland was selected as a host site for the first two rounds of the tournament. 

“Our fans are part of our family, they’re part of it,” Meharg said. “It’s been amazing that we would be able to host to be honest.”

The game will start at 1 p.m. and will take place at the Field Hockey and Lacrosse Complex in College Park.