No. 11 Maryland field hockey took the field in their third overtime challenge of the season against No. 17 Rutgers Friday having dropped its previous two overtime efforts.
Immediately, midfielder Maia Adamson sent an effort to the Scarlet Knights’ net but couldn’t find paydirt. Rutgers’ defender Puck Winter failed on her attempt just two minutes later.
But seconds later, Adamson regained possession, only steps away from the Scarlet Knights’ net. With a clear path to the goal, the freshman midfielder
swung and hit the back of the net for the first time in her collegiate career. Adamson’s clutch score provided Maryland its first victory in two weeks as it closed its conference schedule with a 1-0 victory.
Rutgers opened Friday’s match with possession, but faced strong pressure from the Terps on all sides. In the opening three minutes, defender Josie Hollamon and midfielder Ella Fehr consistently broke up possession from the Scarlet Knights in the backfield, limiting them to no shots on goal in the first quarter.
Maryland’s first advance towards Rutgers’ attack zone came about halfway through the first quarter. But as the Terps pressed towards the Scarlet Knights’ net, they got a taste of their own medicine, losing possession and pivoting back to defense.
The rest of the first quarter played out between the two shooting circles. Freshman forward Jordyn Hollamon managed to break through Rutgers’ backline, taking Maryland’s first shot of the game. However, her shot at the cage flew wide, closing the quarter without a score.
The second quarter opened with much of the same; a possessive exchange in the midfield with occasional breakaways from both teams.
Maryland gained momentum on offense in the last six minutes of the first half. Fleur Knopert took the Terps’ first shot of the second quarter, but her attempt flew wide. Midfielders Maci Bradford and Feliz Kuhne followed suit, but couldn’t find the back of the goal either.
Rutgers’ tried to replicate Maryland’s offensive action in the final 90 seconds before halftime, breaking away through the Terps’ midfield. Josie Hollamon fished the ball out of the Scarlet Knights’ possession, leaving Rutgers shotless for the quarter.
The second half saw more back-and-forth action in the opening minutes. Captain and defender Ericka Morris-Adams stole possession from the Scarlet Knights to stop a push towards Maryland’s goal, but she couldn’t create any offensive opportunities herself.
Feliz Kuhne drew Maryland’s first penalty corner of the game five minutes into the third quarter. Bradford inserted the ball for Kuhne to take a shot, but she met the Scarlet Knights’ defense, who cleared the ball from the shooting circle and sent it back to the middle of the field.
Rutgers forward Sophie Kuiper managed to break through the midfield, taking the Scarlet Knights’ first shot in two quarters. Morris-Adams struck again, knocking the ball just out of her reach.
Klebasko took the extra step, kicking the ball clear of the circle altogether. The goalkeeper used her foot again in the last minute of the quarter to kick a possible shot away from the net, keeping the game tied at zero.
Rutgers entered the fourth quarter with calculated offensive action after their three quarters in a row without a shot on goal. Even after breaking through the 25-yard attack zone, the Terps’ defensive line stood tall, rejecting any chance at a goal.
In the final three minutes of regulation, Morris-Adams came full force down the field with possession and aided co-captain Josie Hollamon in blocking two shots on goal less than a minute apart.
Bradford lined up to insert an untimed penalty corner with the clock at zero. Bradford passed across to Josie Hollamon, who passed to Gaitan on her left without looking. Gaitan swung on target, but Rutgers goalkeeper Emily Nicholls met the shot.
The Terps earned another penalty corner shortly thereafter, still with no time on the clock. Bradford passed to Kuhne on the second attempt who shot just inside the circle, but her shot met the same fate, ending regulation in a 0-0 tie.
With Friday’s victory, Maryland earned itself a place in the Big Ten Tournament alongside other top teams in the conference.
Three things to know
1. Freshman fever. Three freshman Terps — Djuna Eikelboom, Jordyn Hollamon and now, Maia Adamson — each scored a goal in the past three games. Eight of the 10 freshmen on Maryland’s roster have played at least one game.
2. Defense in the clutch. For the first time since Sept. 7, goalkeeper Alyssa Klebasko didn’t post a single save during the game. Josie Hollamon and Ericka Morris-Adams carried the bulk of the defensive responsibility, not allowing Rutgers any shots on goal. With two captains holding down the back line, Klebasko simply didn’t have to step out to make any saves.
3. Returning the favor. The last time the Terps and the Scarlet Knights played in an overtime matchup, the Scarlet Knights dominated in a shootout. With the win, Maryland is level with Rutgers in overtime games.
