No. 3-seed Maryland field hockey falls in Final Four to No. 2-seed Northwestern, 2-1

Heading into the fourth quarter, No. 3-seed Maryland area hockey noticed itself in a nail-biter with No. 2-seed Northwestern within the Remaining 4 of the NCAA Event. Two minutes into the quarter, the Wildcats have been awarded a penalty nook.

Northwestern fifth yr ahead Bente Baekers despatched a booming shot that discovered the again of the web, placing Northwestern forward 1-0. The Wildcats added another earlier than the Terps received on the board, sealing their destiny in a 2-1 defeat in Storrs, Connecticut, on Friday afternoon.

That is the second consecutive yr Maryland’s season ended within the Remaining 4 of the NCAA Event. Final yr, it was a loss to Liberty that despatched the Terps packing.

On Friday, Maryland managed the tempo early, shifting the ball round with fast passes and attempting to bait Northwestern to create scoring alternatives.

Midway by means of the quarter, the Wildcats began to seek out their legs, testing senior goalie Christina Calandra early off a Northwestern penalty nook.

The primary quarter skilled chippy play from each groups with feelings working excessive within the semifinal matchup.

The Maryland protection stood sturdy after going through three photographs within the first quarter.

With seven minutes left within the second quarter, Maryland earned its first penalty nook. The Northwestern protection stood tall because the Terps have been unable to get a shot on purpose.

Neither group was capable of reap the benefits of their penalty corners within the first half, experiencing miscommunications on their mixed 4 makes an attempt.

Calandra recorded two saves within the first half to maintain Northwestern off the board.

Protection continued to be the topic of the primary half as Maryland couldn’t get its firepower offense rolling coming into the intermission with no rating.

Maryland utilized the stress early to begin the second half with a rocket of a backhand from graduate midfielder Dani Van Rootselaar however was unable to seek out the web. Van Rootselaar was everywhere in the area for the Terps, developing with key defensive stops and offensive stress.

Sophomore ahead Hope Rose was assessed with a inexperienced card with seven minutes left to play within the third. Regardless of the person benefit for Northwestern, the Maryland protection battened down the hatches to kill off the cardboard.

With two minutes left within the third, Rose earned the second penalty nook for Maryland. The Terps have been capable of drive three photographs, however Northwestern junior goalie Annabel Skubisz made three spectacular saves conserving the sport scoreless.

With seconds left within the third quarter, Northwestern junior midfielder Chloe Relford was given a inexperienced card to offer the Terps a two-minute benefit that carried into the fourth quarter.

Two minutes into the fourth quarter, the Wildcats earned their fourth penalty nook of the sport. Baekers despatched a booming shot that discovered the again of the web, placing Northwestern forward 1-0.

With six minutes to play, Northwestern junior midfielder Maddie Zimmer was sprinting down the middle of the sphere. Zimmer ripped a shot from the highest of the circle, however Calandra made a spectacular save to maintain Maryland within the sport.

With two minutes left within the sport, junior midfielder Chloe Relford discovered an empty Maryland web, which appeared just like the nail within the coffin for the Terps.

However Maryland didn’t stop as senior midfielder Emma DeBerdine responded instantly, placing the Terps on the board with a minute to play.

Within the last 30 seconds of the sport, Maryland was awarded two penalty corners however couldn’t discover the equalizer, falling 2-1.

Three issues to know

1. Maryland couldn’t capitalize on scoring alternatives. Maryland outshot the Wildcats in complete photographs and photographs on purpose however didn’t maintain a lead at any level of the sport. Maryland additionally earned 5 penalty corners and did not take benefit, going 0-for-5.

2.Northwestern is headed to back-to-back nationwide championship video games. The Wildcats will look to win back-to-back titles for the primary time in program historical past. It will be the primary repeat since North Carolina’s 3-peat from 2018-2020. Northwestern will face off in opposition to North Carolina on Sunday, Nov. 20 at 1:30 p.m.

3.Maryland was knocked out within the Remaining 4 for the second yr in a row. In 2021, the Liberty Flames ended the Terps’ season within the nationwide semifinal. In 2022, it was the Northwestern Wildcats. Maryland hoped to achieve its first nationwide championship sport since 2018 however fell simply quick for the second yr in a row.