Forward Emma Rissinger celebrates after the Terps’ 3-2 victory over Princeton on Nov. 17, 2013 in the NCAA tournament to advance to the national semifinals.

Missy Meharg leaned on the sideline fence while looking toward the Field Hockey and Lacrosse Complex turf Sunday afternoon.

The Terrapins field hockey coach watched as Princeton celebrated after scoring in the game’s opening two minutes. Though the Terps’ second-round game of the NCAA tournament was off to a rough start, Meharg didn’t break her stance or make any tactical changes.

The 26th-year coach allowed the players to recover for themselves, and the Terps tied the game three minutes later. When the Tigers made it 2-1 in the 35th minute, the Terps responded in less than 30 seconds with another tying goal. The team hasn’t had to come from behind often, but with the latest example coming in their 3-2 win over Princeton, the Terps proved capable of earning comeback wins.

“Well, I’d like to say that I teach them how to score within 30 seconds of goals, but I don’t think I really teach that,” Meharg said yesterday. “We’re just very fortunate to have players that understand the energy level that teams can have when they do score.”

The Terps rarely had tense moments in their first month of the season, winning nine of their first 10 games by two or more goals. The team fell behind for the first time against Boston College on Sept. 27, facing 1-0 and 2-1 deficits before winning, 3-2.

The Terps had a comeback win against North Carolina two games later, but one of their most memorable come-from-behind wins came against Syracuse on Oct. 18. The Terps struggled to finish their chances in the first period, and Orange goalkeeper Jess Jecko made several saves to keep the Terps off the board for much of the second half.

The team tied the game with less than a minute left and then sealed the win by scoring in the opening minutes of overtime.

“That was a game that showed us that we can come back from anything,” defender Sarah Sprink said. “We always believe in what we do on the field, and we never give up.”

The Terps showed in their most recent comeback against Princeton that they rarely allow opponents to build on any momentum. The Terps have faced a two-goal deficit only once this season — during their only loss against No. 8 Old Dominion.

The Terps’ 3-2 overtime win against Duke in the ACC semifinals was the first time the team had relinquished a two-goal lead. Still, the Terps responded with an early goal in overtime to clinch the victory. The two teams will meet for the third time this season in the NCAA semifinals on Friday.

“We’re going to be making adjustments, so we know that they’re going to be making adjustments,” midfielder Maxine Fluharty said. “Mentally, it’s a little bit challenging to play the same team three times. But if you have just a clean slate going into it, then it just sets you up for better starting ground.”

But even if they fall behind against Duke, the Terps will be confident that they can erase the deficit and take control of the game, just as they have shown in past scenarios this season.

“I think we’ve been pretty good at facing adversity and continuing to push through it,” defender Ali McEvoy said. “To just have no regrets.”