Box Score PISCATAWAY, NJ -- The No. 8 Terps opened Big Ten play with a heartbreaking loss against undefeated No. 6 Rutgers, 3-2, as the Scarlet Knights took the penalty shootout, 3-1.
 
Before penalty strokes, Maryland opened the contest by scoring within the first three minutes on a goal from Margot Lawn. Rutgers responded with a pair of goals to take a lead early in the third quarter, but the Terps responded with a transition goal from Maci Bradford to level the score midway through the third.
 
The game marks the third consecutive time the Terps and Scarlet Knights have played a one-goal game as Maryland has won back-to-back outings.
 
Paige Kieft played an admirable contest in net, recording four saves as the Terps faced several tests in the fourth quarter and in both overtime periods.
 
However, the Terps could not take their first shootout victory of the season, taking a 1-0 lead but not scoring a goal during the rest of penalty strokes, as Rutgers continues its best start in program history. 
 
Breaking Down The Action

• Maryland wasted no time getting on the board, as fifth-year forward Margot Lawn ripped a goal off the left post off a feed from graduate Sammy Popper to put the Terps up 1-0 less than three minutes into the game.
• The Scarlet Knights sought to level the score two minutes later, as Marique Dieudonne's shot hit the post off a penalty corner.
• Rutgers had a penalty corner chance in the opening minute of the second quarter, but junior goalkeeper Paige Kieft turned the attempt away.
• Junior forward Hope Rose had a shot on net from a penalty corner, but her attempt was turned away by the Rutgers netminder.
• Julianne Kopec leveled the contest at 1-1 midway through the second quarter on a deflected shot off a Maryland stick.
• Less than two minutes out of the halftime break, Rutgers took its first lead of the game, 2-1, with a goal from Guillermina Causarano.
• Freshman Maci Bradford tied the game back up at 2-2, taking advantage of a transition opportunity by burying a shot past the Rutgers keeper off her line at the 8:27 mark.
• Rose made a nifty behind-the-back pass to junior midfielder Kylee Niswonger for a clear shot on net, but the Scarlet Knight defense recovered to keep the ball off the line.
• The Maryland defense upheld the tied contest early in the fourth, blocking a Rutgers shot and forcing another attempt wide.
• Maryland and Rutgers went to overtime with just one shot attempt in the final 10 minutes of play.
• After the Terps went a woman up following a Rutgers green card, Maryland went for a shot off the penalty corner but could not get an attempt off.
• Kieft made a pad save to deny Causarano on a backhand attempt, prolonging the game six minutes into overtime.
• Sophomore Hannah Boss made a big run down the field, but was stonewalled by the Rutgers keeper.
• Kieft and a hustling Josie Hollamon kept a Causarano shot out at the end of the first overtime period.
• The Scarlet Knights had a handful of chances in the first half of the second overtime period, but the Terps kept every chance out.
• On the first shot of the shootout, Kieft denied Puck Winter.
• Popper converted Maryland's first shot of the shootout, but Rutgers took a 3-1 win by scoring on the following three strokes.

Series History

• The Terps now hold a 35-5-1 all-time series lead over the Scarlet Knights. 

Notable Numbers

• 1: The Terps competed in their first penalty shootout of the season.
• 4: Margot Lawn netted her fourth goal of 2023. Paired with her goal against No. 6 Virginia last week, she has goals in back-to-back games for the second time in her Maryland career.
• 5: Maci Bradford scored her fifth goal of the season.

 
Up Next

• The Terps play their first home game in over two weeks, playing their Big Ten home opener against No. 16 Penn State Sunday at 2 p.m. Action from the Field Hockey and Women's Lacrosse Complex will be broadcast on Big Ten Network.