Box Score
#6 Penn State
2
1
#3 Maryland
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The third-ranked Maryland field hockey team (17-4) fell to No. 6 Penn State, 2-1, Sunday in the Big Ten Championship game at the Field Hockey & Lacrosse Complex. The Terrapins led at half, but a second half surge by the Nittany Lions (17-2) was the difference.
“We all know about the sting of sport and this group is such hard-working women,” head coach Missy Meharg said. “We're disappointed in not being able to raise the trophy for the Big Ten championships here at home. We played in spurts. We got a little emotional with things we couldn't control. Overall, I was pleased with our defensive structure and our maturity in the backfield.”
Redshirt senior Emma Rissinger gave Maryland the first lead when she deflected in Welma Luus' shot from the baseline on the left side. Rissinger brought the ball up from the backfield, passed it to Luus, then got her stick on the shot for the score in the 26th minute.
Penn State tied it at one just 1:15 into the second half when Aurelia Meijer scored off a penalty corner.
The Nittany Lions took a 2-1 lead 7:30 later when Gini Bramley scored off a pass from Meijer in the 44th minute.
The Terrapins pulled Sarah Holliday from the goal with 6:00 to play in favor of an extra field player. They pushed throughout the final six minutes, but were unable to find the back of the net.
Welma Luus and Lein Holsboer were named to the All-Big Ten Tournament Team.
Luus was named Big Ten Player of the Year and Grace Balsdon was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year the league announced Wednesday.
Both were named to the All-Big Ten First Team, as voted by the league's nine head coaches. Holsboer was voted to the All-Big Ten Second Team. With Luus' and Balsdon's honors this year, 15 Terrapins in program history have earned 20 conference Player of the Year awards.
Maryland is currently ranked No. 3 in the latest RPI and national rankings, available here.
The Terrapins will learn their NCAA Tournament fate on the NCAA Selection Show Sunday at 10 p.m. ET on NCAA.com.
DEFLECTIONS: Maryland trails the all-time series, 15-21-1, but has won the last six straight matchups and 11 of the last 13, dating back to 1994… The Terps are 111-35-3 (.755) all-time against Big Ten opponents… Meharg is 94-15-1 (.859) vs. Big Ten opponents in her 29 years at the helm of the Maryland field hockey program…Maryland is 158-18 (.898) in the 13 seasons at the Field Hockey & Lacrosse Complex…The Terrapins are 35-2 (.946) vs. Big Ten opponents at the Complex…Meharg owns a record of 526-127-9 (.801) in her 29 years as head coach of the Terrapins.
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