PISCATAWAY, N.J. – The No. 1 Maryland women's lacrosse team (17-1) fell to No. 20 Ohio State (13-6), 11-10, in the Big Ten Tournament semifinals Friday.
Brooke Griffin paced the Terps with four goals while Megan Whittle notched a hat trick. Zoe Stukenberg, Kristen Lamon and Kelly McPartland each added a goal.
The Terps started the game with a 4-0 lead before the Buckeyes were able to tie the game with four unanswered goals. Whittle scored twice in less than two minutes as Maryland took a 6-4 advantage into halftime.
The teams each had chances early in the second half before Whittle completed her hat trick on a bouncing shot at 23:55. Ohio State tallied three straight goals as the Buckeyes tied the game again, this time 7-7 with 19:47 remaining.
Ohio State took an 8-7 lead at 16:55 but Griffin was able to tie the game again at 15:55 on an 8-meter shot. The Buckeyes scored three straight goals to take an 11-8 lead. Griffin and Stukenberg each notched goals in the last four minutes of the game, but were unable to find the equalizer.
The loss snapped a 27-game win streak for the Terps. Maryland began the season with 17 straight wins.
Ohio State goalkeeper Tori DeScenza put up a phenomenal performance as she made 11 saves.
The Terps will find out their postseason seeding in the NCAA Selection Show on Sunday at 9 p.m.
-Maryland-