COLLEGE PARK, Md.  – The eighth-ranked Maryland field hockey team controlled both ends of the field in its match against No. 7 Albany, but the Great Danes capitalized on two of their few opportunities as the Terrapins fell 2-1 at the Field Hockey & Lacrosse Complex Friday afternoon.

Maryland took 23 shots to the Great Danes' five and had eight penalty corners to three. The Terps controlled the ball on their end of the field through the majority of the game, but Albany goalkeeper Maxi Primus made 13 saves to hold them off.

“We're just going to keep our chins up and keep moving forward,” head coach Missy Meharg said. “We knew Albany was going to come out and play a very slow, methodical style of hockey and we needed to play fast hockey and get shots. We did that and we'll continue to work on goal scoring and finishing. That's what we need to do – score when the opportunity is there. That's what our responsibility is to do and we'll keep working on it and moving forward.”

The Terrapins (2-3) controlled the first half, taking 14 shots to the Great Danes' two. Primus made six saves in the first period alone to stop the Terps' offense. The two teams were scoreless at half.

Albany got on the board with a score by Anna Bottino three minutes into the second half. The Danes' Paula Heuser passed it to her for a close shot into the low part of the cage.  

With just about 12 minutes to play, Heuser made it a two-goal lead for Albany with a high shot into the net.

Welma Luus put the Terrapins on the board with eight minutes left to go. She tipped in Emma Rissinger's saved shot to get past Primus. Maryland went up a player for the remaining two minutes, due to pulling goalkeeper Sarah Holliday out of the goal.

Next, the Terrapins will play American (3-1) Sunday at 3 p.m. Sunday's game time was changed to 3 p.m. from 2 p.m. Admission is free for both games. Parking will be free and open all day Sunday.

Live Stats for Sunday's game will be available and updates will also be posted to the Maryland Field Hockey Twitter feed.

Maryland will be honoring its 2005 NCAA Championship team at Sunday's game against American. The 2005 Terrapins went 23-2 overall and defeated No. 4 Duke, 1-0, for Maryland's fourth NCAA title and third under Meharg.

DEFLECTIONS

Prior to Friday's game, the Terrapins held their annual Golf Tournament and crab feast…Head coach Missy Meharg is approaching 500 career wins with her current record of 492-122-9 (.797)…Only three other coaches in NCAA history have reached 500 career wins.

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