COLLEGE PARK, M.D. - After an emotional comeback against Virginia in the ACC Tournament, the Terps carried their momentum over to the first round of the NCAA Tournament against the American Eagles. Although this game was a rematch of a game played earlier, the Terps still scouted their opponent and focused on their play. In the previous match, the game was a defensive battle as the Terps scored once in the beginning, and twice in the last 15 minutes. However, the American defense held the Terps to only 13 shots that game, much lower than the Terps usually have. This time, however, the Terps used their newfound experience and confidence to put together a complete game against the Eagles to dominate them 6-1.

 

In the first half, the Terps struck first with a tricky penalty corner; normally, the Terps would start off by having Emma Thomas firing off a drag flick, yet this time, Thomas faked one and instead Ameliet Rischen received the ball and passed it off to Frazer for the tip in. Maryland would score two more goals off of an Emma Thomas drag flick and a Katie O’Donnell rebound shot. American would respond in the last three minutes of the half when the Eagles scored off of a penalty corner deflection.

Although the Terps were out-cornered in the second half and had some trouble clearing the ball early, they still dominated the half. Emma Thomas would score a goal in the first 10 minutes. Then in the next nine minutes, the Eagles held the ball by out running the Terps to loose balls (to keep themselves fresh, they made seven substitutions in this time period). However, on a fast break, Katie O’Donnell received the ball and cleared the ball herself. She then passed to Muracco on the post who then tipped the pass into the goal. 11minutes later, during an American penalty corner, Christine Fingerhuth fired a shot that was kick saved by Maryland goalie Alicia Grater. The ball got to O’Donnell around the 35 yard line, she then ran the ball down, juked one defender and faked out the goalie to score Maryland’s sixth goal of the game.

Despite easily winning the game, the Alicia Morawski took a hit in the face on an awkward tackle and did not return to the game. The Terps will face the Drexel Dragons, who upset the 5th ranked UConn Huskies, the Big East Champions, in the second round of the NCAA Tournament at College Park, MD.