COLLEGE PARK, MD – No. 8 Maryland field hockey lost in a tightly contested defensive battle, 2-1, to No. 3 Ohio State on Friday at the Field Hockey and Lacrosse Complex.
The Buckeyes' Makenna Webster scored the game-winner on a penalty corner with 29 seconds remaining. With limited time, the Terps (9-4, 4-2 Big Ten) could not get a shot off to tie the game and send it to overtime.
Until midway through the fourth, the game was a defensive masterclass between two of the top teams in the country. However, Ohio State broke the stalemate with a goal by Katie Fichtner at the 9:20 mark. The Terps promptly responded with a goal by freshman Ella Gaitan approximately a minute later. Gaitan's goal was her sixth of the season.
Despite the loss, Maryland's defense, led by Ericka Morris-Adams, Josie Hollamon and Rayne Wright, limited the Buckeyes to six shots and five penalty corners. The Terps led both categories, 15-6 and 10-5, respectively.
Ohio State's lone loss entering the match up was to No. 6 Michigan on Oct. 6. They improved to 12-1 and 3-1 in Big Ten play.
Breaking Down The Action
- The teams traded possessions before Hope Rose drew a penalty corner for the Terps. Josie Hollamon put up a shot, but it deflected off a Buckeyes defender.
- Hope Rose delivered a shot on goal midway through the first quarter that Ohio State's goalkeeper blocked.
- The Terps kept the ball in Buckeyes territory for most of the latter half of the first quarter, earning three more penalty corners.
- Rayne Wright broke up an Ohio State fast break in the final minute of the first quarter to prevent her goalkeeper, Alyssa Klebasko, from facing one-on-one pressure.
- Klebasko punched away a Buckeyes shot attempt off a penalty corner to keep the game scoreless going into the second quarter.
- Klebasko made another great save five minutes through the second quarter, this time deflecting a Makenna Webster strike off an Ohio State penalty corner.
- Hollamon put up a shot off Maryland's fifth penalty corner, but the Buckeyes goalie blocked it. The score was still 0-0 at the half.
- Ella Gaitan put up the first shot of the second half but it was kicked away by the Buckeyes' goalie.
- Maryland earned a penalty corner opportunity with five minutes to go in the third quarter, but they could not convert for a score.
- Hollamon called for and won a penalty corner opportunity in the closing seconds of the third quarter. Rose slapped a shot on target, but it was blocked by Ohio State's goalie.
- An Ohio State shot off a penalty corner sailed just past Klebasko to the lower right corner of the net for a score.
- Maryland quickly answered with a penalty corner. Ella Gaitan lifted a shot to the upper left corner to tie it at 1-1.
- With less than a minute remaining, Makenna Webster tipped in a shot off a late penalty corner to put Ohio State ahead 2-1.
Numbers To Know
- 6: Ella Gaitan scored her sixth goal of the season.
- 6: Entering the contest, goalkeeper Alyssa Klebasko ranked sixth in the country in goals against average (.767).
- 9: Entering the contest, the Terps ranked ninth in the NCAA in scoring margin (1.87).
Up Next
- Maryland hosts No. 7 Michigan on Sunday at noon for another top-10 match up. The game will be streamed live on Big Ten Plus.
