Box Score
#9 Michigan
2
3
#8 Maryland
COLLEGE PARK, Md. – The eighth-ranked Maryland field hockey team (8-3, 3-1 B1G) battled from behind twice, then redshirt senior Emma Rissinger scored in the 74th minute to beat No. 9 Michigan, 3-2, in overtime.
The Terrapins trailed the Wolverines (7-3, 2-2) twice in the second half, but goals by graduate students Grace Balsdon and Welma Luus sent the Terps to their to first sudden-victory overtime period of the year.
“Great experience for us tonight," head coach Missy Meharg said. “Michigan is exceedingly fit and very, very aggressive. We couldn't be happier with an opportunity to go to overtime. That might sound strange, but to be great and to play for championships, you have to play a lot of overtime. There was no question after halftime we made some subtle adjustments with how we were putting pressure on their backfield. They really played into us and we were able to get shots and penalty corners.”
Michigan got on the board first when Carly Bennett scored off a rebound in the 18th minute of play. The Wolverines would lead 1-0 at the break, outshooting the Terps, 8-4.
Maryland turned on the offensive pressure in the second half, cracking eight shots in the first 12 minutes alone. Just over eight minutes into the second period, Balsdon evened the score when she banged in her 10th goal of the season off a penalty corner. Junior Lein Holsboer and Rissinger assisted on the play.
Ten minutes later, Michigan's Meg Dowthwaite deflected in Katie Trombetta's pass from outside the circle for a 2-1 lead with 16 minutes to go.
Luus tied the game once more when she took a pass from Rissinger from just in front of the goal and slipped it past the Michigan keeper with 9:21 to play.
In overtime, Rissinger took a pass from Luus that crossed in front of the cage, then scored off a diving shot from the far post.
Redshirt junior Sarah Bates made a career-high six saves in her 55 minutes in goal, including two in the final minute of regulation to help send the game to overtime. Sophomore Sarah Holliday notched one save in her 18 minutes in goal.
Maryland took 20 shots to Michigan's 15 and had six penalty corners to five.
Balsdon was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week Tuesday for the first time in her career. She led the Terrapins on both ends of the field to a pair of road wins over top-15 teams. She tallied three goals and two assists on the week.
Next, the Terps will host No. 14 Old Dominion (6-3) Tuesday at 5 p.m. Admission is free and parking will be free in the lots around the Complex after 4 p.m.
The Maryland-Old Dominion game will be streamed online through BTN Plus. Live stats will be available. International fans will be able to watch using their BTN Plus subscriptions here.
DEFLECTIONS: Maryland owns the all-time series over Michigan, 17-1…The Terps are 105-34-3 (.750) all-time against Big Ten opponents…Meharg is 88-14-1 (.859) vs. Big Ten opponents in her 29 years at the helm of the Maryland field hockey program…The Terrapins are 31-1 (.969) vs. Big Ten teams at the Field Hockey & Lacrosse Complex and have won 21 straight home games against Big Ten opponents, dating back to 2008.
All Maryland field hockey alumni were invited back to the Maryland-Michigan game as part of Homecoming Weekend. The 2006 and 2011 teams were recognized for their 10 and five year anniversaries of their National Championships.
- Terps -
