COLLEGE PARK, Md. – No. 15 Rutgers field hockey was unable to overcome an early deficit, falling at No. 2 Maryland (13-0, 4-0 Big Ten) by a 3-1 final score. Freshman
Tayla Parkes scored the RU goal in the second half, but it wasn't enough for the Scarlet Knights (8-4, 1-4 Big Ten). Maryland outshot RU 18-5 and had an 8-4 advantage in penalty corners.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Maryland scored first, capitalizing off a penalty corner five minutes into the contest.
Gianna Glatz made the initial save, but Kyler Greenwalt knocked in the rebound to give the home team an early lead.
Ten minutes later, the Terps added a pair of goals a minute apart, with Bibi Donraadt tallying twice. On the first, the ball was played across the circle, and Donraadt redirected it in for a 2-0 lead. On the second, the ball was sent into the front of the goal and Donraadt slapped it in for a 3-0 lead.
In the second half, with 12 minutes remaining, great passing by the Scarlet Knights led to their goal.
Nikki Profita carried down the right side and sent a long pass into the circle for a streaking
Tayla Parkes. As the goalkeeper collapsed on her, Parkes sent the ball across the goal line, sneaking it into the back post for the goal.
The visitors outscored UMD in the second half, and had all five of their shots on the day in the frame. However, the late push fell short.
QUOTABLE
"Today was a tough loss to a top Maryland team. We didn't start the game well and a team as good as Maryland will punish any lapses in concentration. What was impressive was how we bounced back in the second half and created far more going forward. Tayla scored a great goal on an outstanding pass from
Nikki Profita and we had other opportunity to score that we couldn't quite take. It was a disappointing result but during the second half we showed we can compete with any team in the country."
- Head Coach Meredith Civico
POSTGAME NOTES
- Tayla Parkes scored her third goal of the season.
- Nikki Profita had her third assist of the season, tying her career-high previously set last season.
- Austyn Cuneo had a defensive save in the second half, the first of her career and Rutgers' fifth of the season.
- Abby Regn's defensive save was the freshman's first of her career.
- The Scarlet Knights entered the day leading the conference in defensive saves.
- Gianna Glatz made five saves on the day.
- This was Rutgers fourth straight game against a ranked opponent. RU's loses this season have only come against ranked teams.
- Rutgers held the Terrapins under their season average of a conference-best 3.83 goals-per-game.
UP NEXT
Rutgers returns home for Sunday's game. The Scarlet Knights will host Georgetown at 1 p.m. on MySpace Awareness Day.
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