No. 8 Maryland field hockey upsets No. 2 Michigan, 2-1

With a little less than three minutes remaining in the third quarter, No. 8 Maryland field hockey and No. 2 Michigan were tied with one goal apiece.

Maryland midfielder Julianna Tornetta had the ball at the top of the circle. Tornetta wound up, sent the ball toward goal into the heart of the Wolverines’ defense where forward Bibi Donraadt was waiting. Donraadt boxed out her defender, got her stick on the ball and popped it right past Michigan’s goalkeeper Anna Spieker and onto the backboard to give the Terps the 2-1 advantage.

Donraadt’s goal proved to be the game-winner as the Terps upset the Wolverines on the road, 2-1, to advance to 12-5 on the season.

The energy at the Phyllis Ocker Field Hockey Field was electric from the beginning of the contest, as the Wolverines lead the nation in fan attendance, where they had yet to suffer a defeat up until Sunday’s matchup.

Maryland’s defense looked determined to stifle the Wolverines’ attack in the first quarter, by making timely rotations and giving star goalie Noelle Frost the space to make her saves. The Wolverines got off to a quick start, registering two shots in the first six minutes and then drawing their first penalty corner of the game.

Michigan was inches away from getting on the board first with its corner. However luckily for the Terps, Frost used her body to lay to the right side of the cage, denying Michigan’s shot attempt in what was one of the best early chances of the game.

Then soon after, with under five minutes in the first quarter, Maryland drew first blood.

Maryland midfielder Brooke DeBerdine passed the ball to Taylor Mason who was at the top of the circle surrounded by yellow. She maneuvered past the Wolverines and fired a low shot that hit the far corner of the goal and bounced past Spieker to give the Terps an early 1-0 advantage.

The Terps' ability to move the ball and find holes kept Michigan’s defensive pressure off balance, as the Terps were able to consistently advance the ball into scoring territory.

With under eight minutes remaining in the third quarter, the Wolverines got on the board with a seemingly miraculous goal by midfielder Sofia Southam, as she fired a goal to the left side of a congested cage to tie the game at one apiece.

With less than three minutes remaining in the third quarter, Tornetta fired the shot that Donraadt directed into the goal, past Spieker from inside the heart of the Michigan defense, putting the Terps up 2-1.

Maryland’s aggression and offensive focus were instrumental, as star sisters Emma and Brooke DeBerdine were able to consistently penetrate the defense, looking for opportunities.

The fourth quarter saw a Maryland team that was locked in on securing the upset, before heading back to College Park. The Wolverines managed to attempt just two shots in the final frame, and Maryland’s stellar defense over the final 15 minutes helped it seal the deal once and for all.

Frost’s ability to provide a sense of security in the net for the Terps was instrumental in Maryland’s victory, as she made six saves in the 2-1 upset win over the second-highest ranked team in the nation.

Three things to know

1. Maryland’s offense was aggressive from the get-go in the opening half. The Terps got out in transition and put their dynamic playmakers in a position to pressure the Wolverines’ defense. Maryland recorded six shots in the first half and scored a first-quarter goal by midfielder Taylor Mason. Mason has scored a goal in two of the past three games for the Terps and she’s been a critical player all season.

2. The Terps’ defense showed exceptional focus and tenacity. Maryland was focused on halting a Wolverines’ attack that ranks second in the Big Ten in goals scored. The Terps were bringing their usual defensive pressure and using unique angles to keep Michigan’s potent offense under control. As a result of Maryland’s strong defense, Michigan was only able to score one goal in over 60 minutes of game time.

3. Maryland picks up a huge victory going to the season finale on Friday. The Terps secured their most impressive victory of the season in a victory over the No. 2 Michigan Wolverines. Maryland became the first team to travel to Ann Arbor and depart with a victory. The Terps will look to use the momentum of this victory to end the season on a good note with a victory on Senior Day versus the Ohio State Buckeyes on Friday at the Field Hockey and Lacrosse Complex.