VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. -- Maryland (1-1) suffered its first loss of the season, dropping a 2-1 decision to Northwestern at the Virginia Beach Sportsplex. The Wildcats (2-0) scored two third-period-goals to come away with the win.

"We played a great Northwestern team," head coach Missy Meharg said. "They have some individual players that really took the game into their hands. Maryland played a great brand of hockey in the first two quarters and we had plenty of opportunities. We have work to do on our penalty corners and in our finishing. I was very pleased with the quality of the match."

Maryland's Riley Donnelly tallied the Terps' goal, 6:21 into the game, as she scored directly off a corner from the top of the circle with assists coming off the sticks of Bibi Donraadt and Nathalie Fletcher. 

Northwestern's McKenzie Morgan tied the game at 1-1, early in the third quarter as she chipped the ball over the keeper from the right side. The Wildcats scored the game-winner as Peyton Halsey ripped a shot from the left side off a feed from Bente Baekers with 3:45 left in the third quarter. 

The teams each had 11 shots while the Terps held the advantage in penalty corners, 10-6. 

In the goals, Noelle Frost made four saves for Maryland while the Wildcats Annabel Skubisz had five stops. 

Maryland returns to Virginia Beach next weekend and will play Ohio State on Friday, March 5 at 3 p.m., and a rematch with Northwestern on Sunday, March 7 at 10:30 a.m.