COLLEGE PARK, MD — The fifth-ranked Maryland field hockey team advanced to its 20th Final Four in program history and first since 2018 with a 2-1 victory over the No. 10 Syracuse Orange Sunday afternoon at the Field Hockey & Lacrosse Complex.
 
Anna Castaldo's broke open the scoreless match with a goal in the third quarter to take the lead for Maryland (15-6). Kyler Greenwalt brought the ball up off a long run, then Hope Rose sent it over to Castaldo for a shot in front of the cage.
 
A minute into the fourth quarter, Syracuse (14-6) tied the match off a penalty corner when Eefke van den Nieuwenho knocked one in.

Ninety seconds later, Bibi Donraadt scored the game winner when she finished off a pass from Emma DeBerdine from just inside the circle.

The trio of Riley Donnelly, Rayne Wright, and Maura Verleg were stout on the defensive end as the team held the Orange without a shot on goal for the first 46 minutes of the game. 

After making five saves against Virginia on Friday afternoon, goalie Noelle Frost was tasked with making just one save on the day.

Missy Meharg's Take
"It's such a resilient group of women to coach. They do as their called upon to do. Syracuse is technically one of the strongest teams in the country and we watched them play on Friday against Penn State. We said, 'We just have to absolutely master our basic skills,' and we did in the first quarter. We came out in the second quarter and then at halftime really just put the pressure on, held their eyes down and we're able to dominate because of the pressure on the ball."

Breaking Down the Action

• The teams spent the first quarter of play feeling each other out as neither team took a shot on goal until Margot Lawn's shot was saved with 2:13 remaining in the quarter. 
• The score remained 0-0 heading into halftime as neither team recorded a shot on goal in the second period.
• Maryland came out of the break on fire with Kyler Greenwalt leading a break and initiating a tic-tac-toe passing play with Hope Rose and Anna Castaldo, with Castaldo cashing in on the goal. 
• The Terps put five shots on goal in the third quarter alone, with Rose notching two of them.
• After a Syracuse goal that tied the game, Maryland came right back down the field with Emma DeBerdine finding Bibi Donraadt in front of the cage, who then put the shot behind the Orange goalie for the goal that served as the game-winner. 
• Down 2-1, Syracuse pulled its goalie with five minutes remaining but Frost and the Terps defense stood strong to lead Maryland to the Final Four. 

Postseason Success

• The Terps own a record of 66-24 (.733), which is the highest winning percentage in NCAA tournament history. Head coach Missy Meharg owns a record of 62-23 (.730) in the NCAA Tournament.
• Maryland is 20-10 all-time in the NCAA Quarterfinals. The Terps are now 27-3 in NCAA Tournament games at the Field Hockey & Lacrosse Complex.

Home Sweet Home

• Since its opening in 2003, the Terps are 201-25 (.890) all-time at the Field Hockey & Lacrosse Complex.

Up Next

• The Terps will take on Liberty in the semifinals on Friday, Nov. 19 at Phyllis Ocker Field Hockey Field in Ann Arbor, Mich.
• Game times will be determined at a later date.