Donnelly's Second Overtime Penalty Stroke Lifts No. 2 Terps To NCAA Second Round

Friday, November 11

COLLEGE PARK, MD

12 p.m.

Maryland

(18-3)

No.13 Liberty

(12-8)

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	Final F
LIBERTY	0	0	1	0	0	0	1
Maryland	0	0	1	0	0	1	2

Donnelly's Second Overtime Penalty Stroke Lifts No. 2 Terps To NCAA Second Round

11/11/2022 12:55:00 PM | Field Hockey

Box Score Photo Gallery

COLLEGE PARK, MD -- The No. 2 Terps advanced to the second-round of the NCAA Tournament in dramatic fashion as Riley Donnelly notched the game-winning goal off a penalty stroke in the second overtime to beat Liberty, 2-1. It was the second year in a row that the Flames and Terps found themselves in double overtime in the NCAA Tournament, but, this time, the Terps came out on top.

With the win, the Terps, the third-overall seed in the tournament, will play either Princeton or Syracuse on Sunday at 1 pm in College Park for a chance to go to the program's 20th Final Four under head coach Missy Meharg.

After a scoreless first half, Liberty took a 1-0 lead early in the third quarter thanks to a penalty corner goal. Margot Lawn and the Terps responded before the third stanza closed to knot the game at one. Neither team was able to find the winner in the fourth quarter or the first overtime and, for the second year in a row between these two teams, the game headed to second overtime. The win avenged last year's season-ending, heartbreaking 3-2 loss to the Flames in double overtime in the NCAA Semifinal.

"Of course, we were looking for revenge, but it's another game in the NCAA tournament and (Liberty) was who was standing in front of us today," Donnelly said. "To win and move on, to survive and advance, that's what postseason is all about and it feels awesome."

The Field Hockey & Lacrosse Complex has now played home to 29 of Maryland's NCAA Tournament games, and played host to three Final Fours (2007, 2010, 2014). The Terrapins are 26-3 in those games and won the 2010 national title on their home field.

The Terps overcame an outstanding performance in goal from Liberty's Azul Iritxity Irigoyen, who finished with a season-high 12 saves. Maryland outshot the Flames 23-6.

Coach Missy Meharg's Take

"I'm just super excited. Had an opportunity twice to take a stroke and Riley's just so poised. She's been poised all year with situations like this and drag-flicking as well. Not surprised we were able to put it away. I thought Maryland played a really good game of field hockey. It just comes down to staying vigilant, staying consistent, never worrying about the score and letting the outcome take care of itself."

From The Hero

"Everybody worked so hard for each other today. If someone made a mistake, someone else was right there to clean it up," Donnelly said. "That's the kind of hockey we want to play, having each others back, moving the ball, playing fast, and I think it really showed."

"In that moment (before her penalty stroke), I was like, 'Ok this is another day, another practice. How many strokes have I taken on this goal in my life? A million. It's just me and somebody in the goal and another day.'"

Breaking Down The Action

Maryland controlled possession and stayed on the attack in the opening half ,but the game was scoreless as both teams headed into the locker room. The Terps outshot the Flames 7-1, with four of those shots on goal, and earned three corners to Liberty's two.
Liberty broke the ice with 10:32 left in the third quarter as Jodie Conolly punched it in off a penalty corner to take a 1-0 lead. It was the Flames' first shot on goal to that point.
Hope Rose and the Terps nearly answered less than a minute later but Liberty came up with a nice defensive stop as Iritxity Irigoyen came out of the goal to meet Rose.
Margot Lawn found the equalizer with just under two minutes left in the third stanza as she sent a rebound off a Danielle Van Rootselaar blocked shot into the back of the net.
The Terps earned a penalty stroke with just over three minutes left in regulation, but Rose was unable to connect and the game headed to overtime.
Maryland did not miss on its second penalty stroke of the afternoon as Donnelly cooly knocked it through to send the Terps to the next round.

Overtime Is Our Time

During the Missy Meharg era, the Terps are 17-3 in overtime or shootout games in the NCAA Tournament, the best all-time record in overtime in the nation.
Under Meharg, Maryland is 67-23 in overtime or shootout games overall, including 20-4 in games at the Field Hockey & Women's Lacrosse complex.
This season, the Terps are 5-1 in overtime games.

Notable Numbers

8: Maryland is now 8-2 in one-score games this season.
9: The Terps are hunting their ninth NCAA Championship.
13: Maryland put 13 of their 22 shots on goal. Liberty only put one shot on goal.
17: The Terps registered 14 more shots than the Flames, winning that battle 23-6.
26: Maryland has now won 26 NCAA Tournament games at the Field Hockey & Lacrosse Complex.

Up Next

The Terps now advance to the second-round of the NCAA Tournament, where they will face No. 8 Syracuse.
The second-round game will take place on Sunday at 1 pm at the Field Hockey and Women's Lacrosse Complex. It will air on B1G+.