No. 6 Maryland field hockey triumphs over Michigan State, 3-1

The Terps came from behind once again to conquer the Spartans.

In what shaped up to be a quintessentially Maryland field hockey game, the No. 6 Terps fell behind early and looked to be in trouble. But they still emerged victorious in East Lansing, Michigan, beating Michigan State 3-1.

The game’s start offered no indication as to how events would unfold. Michigan State and Maryland parried blows, with both teams looking to get off to a hot start but neither able to find the final ball.

The Terps won their first penalty corner six minutes into the game. Emma DeBerdine swung the ball in, but Ericka Morris-Adams miscontrolled the ball and lost possession. The Terps quickly won it back, and a flurry of chances ensued. Hope Rose, Annemijn Klijnhout, Maci Bradford and Rose again fired off shots, but the Spartans’ defense hounded the Terps, blocking shots and forcing them wide.

Maryland dominated the first quarter — taking six shots and winning five penalty corners — but was losing by the end of it.

With just under two minutes remaining in the quarter, Spartans senior Maddie Lawlor broke free on the left wing on a quick transition and fired the ball inside toward freshman Lilian Knorr. Having beaten her defender to the cross, Knorr tapped the ball through the legs of an outstretched Alyssa Klebasko to give Michigan State an unlikely lead.

This was the seventh time in 11 games this season the Terps conceded the first goal. Every game besides shutouts, they have started behind. Through the first six of these games, the Terps were 3-3, and for most of this one, their chances of coming back did not look good.

Entering the second quarter, the Spartans seemed far more likely to press their advantage. Michigan State had vastly more possession than it managed in the first quarter and looked far more solid than the Terps.

After a few early half-chances could not find green jerseys, the Spartans looked wholly content to play the game in their own half, swarming the ball with five or six players and leaving the remaining defenders behind to snuff out space. And their efforts were successful; the second quarter finished shotless, cornerless and goalless for both sides.

The moment that perhaps best summed up the Terps’ frustrating first half was a chance for Leah Horwitz. Maryland did everything right, forcing a rare turnover high up the field. Horwitz ran in one-on-one with the goalkeeper, but the midfielder looked to slide the ball to an onrushing teammate to her left. Instead of taking the shot herself, the attempted pass tumbled out of bounds.

As the second half began, the game remained open, with possibilities for either team to take the reins and turn the tide. And while it was a long time coming, the Maryland offense finally sparked into action. It took a good defensive play to get there, though.

8:20 into the third quarter, Michigan State had a golden opportunity to take the lead. A penalty corner went out to the unmarked freshman phenom Carmen Pucheta. The Spartan midfielder lined up a crack that looked as though it would find its way past Klebasko, but two Maryland defenders came crashing out of the cage to get their sticks in the way and block the shot.

This play ended up pivotal. The Spartans only managed a solitary shot for the rest of the game. And in the 10 minutes after that block, the Terps managed 10 shots, with eight being on goal and three finding the back of the net.

Maryland’s first three shots of the sequence were innocuous, with two testing Spartan goalkeeper Lyra Gavino but none really troubling the Michigan State net. The next two, though, saw Ella Gaitan seize her chances to earn her second multi-goal performance in as many games.

The goal to tie the game was simply opportunistic. DeBerdine swung in a penalty corner, Rose fired it low, Gavino saved at full extension and the ball dropped to Gaitan’s feet. As Gavino watched on helplessly, Gaitan’s shot slammed against the back of the net with 2:20 remaining in the third.

Not even 90 seconds later, Gaitan was at it again. This time, Klijnhout hammered a ball towards the net from outside the circle. Gaitan got her stick to the ball and lifted it in the opposite direction, completely wrong-footing Gavino and turning the game on its head with just under 16 minutes to go.

The Terps carried their momentum into the fourth quarter, with shots from Klijnhout and Horwitz forcing saves from Gavino before Fleur Knopert gave Maryland the insurance goal they desired. With 11:41 on the clock, the Dutch transfer plucked a high ball towards the net out of the air and sent it beyond the Michigan State goalkeeper for her second goal in the red and white.

As the comeback was fulfilled, the air fully deflated out of Michigan State’s play. It could not get ahold of the ball, and Maryland was free to possess and play keepaway to run out the clock and win its eighth game of the season.

Three things to know

1. Monumental win for head coach Missy Meharg. The victory over Michigan State is win No. 650 for Meharg. In her 37th season with the program, Meharg is the third collegiate field hockey coach to ever reach that win landmark.

2. Unbeaten runs continue. Maryland moves to 17-0 against Michigan State all-time after this victory. The Terps are also on a three-game winning streak, which ties their longest run so far this season.

3. Terps giving back on Monday. Maryland field hockey is hosting the Terpsgiving Canned Food Drive during their game against American. Any non-expired canned food donations will be accepted at Monday’s game — fans are encouraged to support their Terps and their community by bringing what they can.

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