No. 8 Maryland field hockey completes comeback against No. 12 Virginia, wins 2-1 in overtime

With about 30 seconds remaining in overtime, the game between No. 8 Maryland field hockey and No. 12 Virginia was tied, 1-1.

Then, on a fast break, freshman forward Hope Rose fired a shot past Virginia’s Tyler Kennedy to put the Terps up 2-1 and end the game giving Maryland its first win since Sept. 26.

Maryland traveled to take on Virginia in what turned into a defensive battle between two of the most talented teams in the nation.

Maryland looked determined to get its offense established in the first quarter as it is 6-1 this season when it has scored first. The Terps moved the ball around Virginia’s stingy defense but could not breakthrough.

Maryland registered just three shots in the first 15 minutes of play. Virginia on the other hand was finding many more looks. The Cavaliers were able to penetrate Maryland’s athletic defense and identify good looks at the cage, but we’re unable to convert them into goals. They outshot Maryland 6-2 in that first frame.

Although Virginia was bringing the offensive pressure, the Terps’ defense got back to its aggressive ways, generating mistakes and making rotations.

Maryland defender Maura Verleg made a brilliant play to hold the Cavaliers out of the cage. As Terps goalie Noelle Frost stepped up in front of the cage to showcase her physical presence, she left the net wide open.

The ball slithered around Frost, only for a sprinting Verleg to knock the ball away from the net to deny Virginia’s chance to get on the scoreboard first in the opening quarter of the match as both teams failed to find a goal at the end of the first 10 minutes.

In the second quarter, there once again was not much offense generated, but speed and agility were on full display on the defensive end from both sides.

Maryland star forward and birthday girl Bibi Donraadt trapped a Cavalier at centerfield, but her aggression cost her on the play as Donraadt, the Terps’ most effective forward so far this season, was given a green card with less than three minutes to go in the first half.

In the first half, Virginia had led the Terps in shots, with an 11-3 advantage. Maryland’s offense could not break through marking the second game of the season the Terps were scoreless entering halftime. The first time Maryland had zero goals in the first 30 minutes of play was against then-No. 1 Iowa, an opponent it would eventually fall to.

For an offense-heavy team like Maryland, it was uncharacteristic for it to register more saves than shots in the first two periods. Frost continued to show why she plays such a vital role in Maryland’s defense as she had five of the Terps’ six saves. Maryland registered just three shots in the first 30 minutes while the Cavaliers registered 11 shots and two saves.

In the third quarter, the scoreless trend continued as once again, another 15 minutes passed without either side finding the back of the cage.

Maryland found some more of its offensive groove as it outshot Virginia 6-1 in the third period. However, despite drawing three penalty corners, the Terps were not able to capitalize on their opportunities.

Some of Maryland’s top scorers in Rose, Donraadt, midfielders Julianna Tornetta and Emma DeBerdine had looks at the goal but could find the edge to give Maryland the advantage as the third wound down with both teams still scoreless.

However, with less than seven minutes to go in the fourth quarter, on a fast break down the field, Virginia drew a penalty corner at the top of the circle.

The Cavaliers inserted the ball, tapped it back into the circle as they drove the ball to the far post. The ball ricocheted and redirected off Laura Janssen’s stick past Frost to give Virginia the 1-0 lead.

However, Maryland was quick to respond. Just minutes later, midfielder Kyler Greenwalt registered her third goal of the season.

With less than five minutes to go in the game, Maryland drew its sixth corner of the game. After Tornetta’s goal was initially saved by Virginia goalie Tyler Kennedy. Greenwalt grabbed the rebound and whacked into the back of the cage, tying the game up at one apiece.

However, neither team could find the winning goal in regulation as the Terps and Cavaliers headed into overtime.

Once it looked like the game would go into a double-overtime, Rose found the back of the cage and secured the win for the Terps.

Three things to know

1. Maryland’s offense went quiet for the third straight game. Coming into its match with Virginia, the Terps scored just two goals in its previous two losses, which came against Northwestern and Iowa, two of the top teams in the country. Maryland’s offense needed to have a big bounce back on the road facing Virginia, and even though its defense stood tall, the offense wasn’t as effective. The Terps finished the game with just 16 shots and two goals in the team’s win.

2. Terps’ goalie Noelle Frost shined in the win. Without the brilliant play of Frost in net, Maryland would’ve found itself down more in the contest with the Cavaliers. Frost made six saves when all was said and done, and she gave one of her best performances of the season with a tight game being played on the road. Frost’s effort pushed Maryland to the victory on Thursday.

3. Maryland was able to escape with a win against a ranked opponent. The Terps are now 7-5 on the season after overcoming a late one-goal deficit en route to taking down the Cavaliers in the first overtime period. It was a hard-fought win for a Maryland team that already had four losses on its record so far this season, all of which came against ranked opponents. This is a big win for a Maryland team that hadn’t found a win since Sept. 26. The program has had a very tough road so far this season and it captured a monumental victory. It’s certainly not going to get any easier for the Terps with matchups against No. 6 Rutgers and No. 2 Michigan remaining on the slate ahead.