No. 9 Maryland field hockey defeats No. 20 Saint Joseph’s in double overtime, 4-3

As No. 9 Maryland field hockey and No. 20 Saint Joseph’s entered double overtime, the teams were tied 3-3.

Less than a minute into the sixth period of the game, senior forward Bibi Donraadt dribbled the ball into the circle, past all the Hawk defenders who attempted to stop her, but Donraadt was on a mission.

Just minutes after she made a game-winning save in goal, the Netherlands native wound up, took the shot that flew past Saint Joseph’s goalkeeper and as it hit the back of the goal, Donraadt’s teammates and the fans back in the stands at the Field Hockey and Lacrosse Complex erupted into cheers.

No. 9 Maryland field hockey and No. 20 Saint Joseph’s were tied up for most of the game until Donraadt broke through with the goal securing the victory over the Hawks, 4-3.

“Seeing the team running at you, it’s just such like a fun feeling and actually like gives you the feeling that we all like did this together too,” Donraadt said.

After inclement weather resulted in the Terps’ first regular-season game against UMass Lowell being canceled, Maryland came into the matchup against the Saint Joseph’s ready to play.

The Terps started off with good control of the ball but it didn’t take long for the Hawks to steal the ball on Maryland’s side of the field. As Saint Joseph’s took a shot, goalkeeper Noelle Frost made the save but the Hawks drew a quick corner within the first minute of the game.

As Saint Joseph’s controlled the ball and took the shot, Frost made the diving save and her defense made the clear.

Just a few minutes later, Saint Joseph’s drew a set of back-to-back corners but Frost was not letting up. Despite the Hawks’ four shots on goal within the first four minutes of the game, Frost continued to make saves and prevent Saint Joseph’s from getting up early.

With about ten minutes to go in the first quarter, the Terps took their first shot on goal but Saint Joseph’s goalkeeper Robin Bleekemolen made the save to keep this matchup scoreless.

In a game that seemed like Saint Joseph’s would break through first, with about five minutes to go in the first frame, the Terps took the ball down the field. Midfielder Kyler Greenwalt fed the ball to midfielder Emma DeBerdine who took the shot and put the Terps up, 1-0.

DeBerdine’s score marked Maryland’s first goal of the 2021 season.

“It was really a great opportunity for me to play with the U22 team but just being back with Maryland is my favorite thing so I was so excited [about the goal],” DeBerdine said. “I made sure I was sleeping on the plane, made sure that I was ready to get in the game as soon as possible so it’s just a great feeling to be out playing with my team again.”

However, just minutes later, the Hawks responded. After drawing another corner, its fifth of the day, Saint Joseph’s broke through Frost and the Maryland defense to knot things up at one.

The second quarter started with forward Margot Lawn drawing her defender toward her and setting up the corner.

Donraadt inserted the ball to midfielder Nathalie Fiechter. The midfielder set it up for defender Taylor Mason who hit it past the goalie and put the Terps up, 2-1.

With about eight and a half minutes to go in the first half, the Hawks drew another corner. They passed the ball in, took a quick sweep and the ball bounced off Frost’s pads as she made the sliding save. But, Saint Joseph’s midfielder Cassidy Atchison was there to get the rebound and tip it into the goal as Frost was still on the ground.

To start off the second half, Maryland attacked first, attempting to draw a corner. However, after a review of the play, the referees ruled that the ball hit a Saint Joseph’s defender’s stick rather than the foot.

With 12 minutes to go in the third quarter, midfielder Julianna Tornetta took a shot saved by Bleekemolen. However, the Terps kept the ball down in the circle drawing their second corner of the day.

After Donraadt inserted the ball for her second time of the day, the Terps could not capitalize, but just minutes later, they were able to finish the job. Down in the circle, Donraadt passed the ball off to Lawn who quickly swept the ball in passed Bleekemolen to put Maryland up, 3-2.

As the third frame winded down, Saint Joseph’s had another corner resulting in its 12th shot of the day, but hit it wide left missing an opportunity to tie the game up at three.

However, with just seconds to go in the third quarter, Saint Joseph’s scrappy offense broke through Maryland’s defense and Frost to tie the game up, 3-3.

“We all trust each other so much. We trust each other on and off the field so we’re always happy to play with each other...it’s just like a great group of girls and we all are just playing our hearts out.” DeBerdine said.

The teams entered the fourth quarter tied while Maryland was down a player after the referees gave DeBerdine a green card.

To start the fourth quarter, Maryland and Saint Joseph’s continued to draw corners but neither team could come up with the deciding score.

As tensions continued to grow stronger with the score tied up late in the game, midfielder Belle Bressler received her first green card of the game. In the two minutes she was out, Saint Joseph’s carried the ball down the field and took two quick shots on goal, both of which Frost saved.

With less than six minutes to go, Bressler reentered the game and the Terps regained control of the ball, bringing it down the field and taking two close shots of their own.

However, the fourth quarter proved to be scoreless for both teams sending Maryland and Saint Joseph’s into two overtimes when Donraadt eventually scored and secured the victory for the Terps.

“It’s like such a happy moment,” Donraadt said. “It’s a great way to start off the season to actually have a game we have to work hard for, especially like going into the Big 10 and ACC tournament next weekend where we will have some hard games too.”

Three things to know

1. Emma DeBerdine, Riley Donnelly and Hope Rose arrived back in the United States early this morning. The trio traveled to Santiago, Chile where they earned bronze medals in the Junior Pan American Cup. Donnelly scored the game-winning goal as it went into a shootout and Rose was named the Most Valuable Player of the tournament. However, in order to not miss Maryland’s first game of the season, DeBerdine, Donnelly and Rose flew back early Sunday morning and contributed significant playing time to the team.

“They’ve been through a lot, they win in overtime [in Chile],” Meharg said. “I got a text from them though when they landed in Miami this morning at 7:03 from Emma that said, ‘just want to let you know, we slept before the plane even took off right.’ Anyway, they’re really cute and I trust them and fortunately, they’re healthy and we’re good to go.”

DeBerdine played 51 minutes, Donnelly played 40 and Rose finished the day playing 32 minutes.

2. Noelle Frost stood strong in goal. At the end of the first half, Saint Joseph’s had taken three times the number of shots Maryland had and the score was knotted at two. The Hawks had 10 shots, seven on goal, and six corners.

“I take her for granted sometimes and I need to be far more aware of just how amazing she is,” Meharg said. “It’s her sixth haul here, so she’s had a few more years than most people so I’m not surprised. I certainly don’t expect it from her but it’s what she does.”

Frost had four saves in the first 30 minutes and did not let up in the second half. At the end of regulation, Saint Joseph’s aggressive offense took 16 shots and Frost had seven saves.

3. The Terps advance to 43-3-2 in season openers. Maryland’s victory over Saint Joseph’s marks the 43rd time the Terps have won the first game of the season. Under head coach Missy Meharg, Maryland has now won 25 straight home openers.