COLLEGE PARK, MD -- The No. 2 Terps (14-1, 7-0) came out on top in a frantic final five minutes of play to defeat No. 20 Rutgers (7-7, 3-4) in a 4-3 thriller to clinch their sixth overall B1G Championship and first since 2019. It is Maryland's 15th overall regular-season conference championship with nine in the ACC and six in the Big Ten.
The Terps led 3-1 with 4:25 remaining, but Rutgers's Rachel Houston scored two goals in under two minutes to knot the game at three apiece after Rutgers pulled their goalie to give them an extra offensive player. Never a team to back down, Maryland and Leah Crouse responded with 41 seconds left, giving the Terps the win as well as the Big Ten Championship. It was Crouse's second goal of the game and second in the final five minutes of play.
This marks Maryland's 46th overall Big Ten title since joining the conference, including both Championships and Tournament Championships. That is the third most of any school since the 2014-15 season when Maryland first became a member of the Big Ten.
Head coach Missy Meharg earned her 15th regular-season title and 27th overall conference championship, including conference tournaments.
In addition to the postgame Big Ten Championship celebration and trophy raise, the Terps also celebrated Senior Day, honoring their 12 seniors, and Fearless Women Day, in honor of the 50th anniversary of Title IX.
From Missy
"I mean it's amazing," Meharg said of the Big Ten Championship. "This team's amazing. They find a way to win...Just the resilience, the fortitude, the collectiveness to believe that even having two goals scored against you in such a short amount of time, to then go down and find a way to get a final goal. It's a testament to their character."
Breaking Down The Action
- Rutgers went on top first thanks to a goal from Marique Dieuonne off a penalty corner.
- The Terps had a good opportunity on a penalty corner of their own but Rutgers nudged Danielle Van Roootselaar's shot just wide to keep the score at 1-0 as the first quarter ended.
- Maryland found another good chance early in the second stanza as Margot Lawn laid an excellent pass for Bibi Donraadt that Rutgers was just able to get a stick on.
- The Terps got another late penalty corner and held a 4-1 shots on goal advantage, but still trailed 1-0 at halftime.
- Led by Van Rootselaar, the Terps kept the pressure on the Rutgers defense coming out of halftime. That momentum finally paid off with just over five minutes left in the third quarter as Riley Donnelly streaked down the right side of the field and found Lawn in front of the goal for the equalizer.
- The Terps notched the go-ahead goal with just over 11 minutes remaining as Crouse slapped a hard-struck shot past Rutgers' Sophia Howard in goal. Maura Verleg recorded the assist on the play.
- The final five minutes were incredibly frantic as Bibi Donraadt added a goal before Rutgers notched two of their own. Crouse played hero again as she found the game-winner in the final minute.
Notable Numbers
- 4: Four total goals were scored in the final 4:25 minutes of action. Two from Rutgers' Houston and two from Crouse.
- 7: Maryland has won seven straight matches.
- 9: The Terps are now a perfect nine-for-nine in home games at the Plex this season.
- 11: The Terps' aggressive play earned them 11 penalty corners to Rutgers' three.
- 12: The Terps took 12 more shots than the Scarlet Knights, winning that category 19-7.
- 15: Maryland field hockey now has 15 overall regular-season conference championships (nine in the ACC and six in the Big Ten).
- 46: Maryland athletics as a whole now has 45 Big Ten titles since the university joined the Big Ten in 2014, the third most of any school during that span.
Series History
- Maryland now holds a 35-4-1 series advantage and a 21-0 record in College Park against Rutgers.
Up Next
- After wrapping up their three-game homestand today, the Terps will hit the road and travel to University Park, Pennsylvania for a matchup with Penn State on Friday at 6 pm. That game will air on B1G+.
