In each of the Maryland field hockey team’s first three years in the Big Ten, it has played Northwestern twice. Once in the regular season and once in the Big Ten tournament.
In the first two years, the series ended in a sweep, with the regular season winner triumphing in tournament play, as well.
Northwestern, the only Big Ten team to beat Maryland since it joined the conference, again beat the Terps in the regular season Sept. 25.
Friday, forward Welma Luus bucked the trend with a goal less than two minutes into overtime of the Big Ten semifinals. Her score lifted the Terps over Northwestern, 3-2, and into Sunday’s Big Ten championship game against Penn State.
“I was confident that we would win this game,” coach Missy Meharg said.
The Terps spent much of the game trailing the Wildcats. Luus’ golden goal gave the team its first lead of the game.
“Coming back from behind twice and finding a way to just dominate towards the end of the game and in overtime,” Meharg said. “[The Maryland players] are resilient, they are tough and they are immensely focused.”
Northwestern got on the board early with a penalty corner goal in the seventh minute thanks to midfielder Isabel Flens.
Not long after, Maryland also converted its first corner of the contest. Defender Grace Balsdon scored from the top of the circle to tie the game.
Flens, though, responded with another penalty corner score in the 20th minute.
Maryland controlled the first half after that, but Northwestern goalkeeper Lindsay von der Luft and the rest of the Wildcats defense prevented the Terps from scoring. Maryland earned four more penalty corners and took 11 shots after Northwestern took the 2-1 lead but couldn’t convert any of those chances.
“There’s nothing you can do,” Meharg said. “If you keep doing what you’re doing they’re going to fall. And if you believe that, then they will.”
The defense blocked seven Terps shots in the first half, and von der Luft had five saves. So even though Maryland outshot the Wildcats, 14-5, Northwestern carried its 2-1 lead into the break.
But about halfway through the second half, Maryland’s pressure finally paid off.
Forward Sophie Pelzer received the ball in the circle and dribbled down the baseline toward the near post.
von der Luft met her there, but Pelzer pushed the ball past her for an equalizer that felt deserved after the Terps outshot Northwestern, 4-1, to that point in the second half.
“Honestly, I still don’t know how it got in,” Pelzer said. “But it went in, and that’s the most important thing.”
There was back-and-forth action to end the second half, but neither team could score a potential game winner as time ticked down.
With two minutes remaining, Flens picked up a five-minute yellow card that carried into overtime, giving the Terps a 7-on-6 advantage to begin the extra period.
Flens didn’t get the chance to return to the field, as Luus ended the game 1:41 into the overtime period. Defender Carrie Hanks had a look at goal that von der Luft saved, but it deflected right to Luus in front of net.
“The rebound literally came right into my stick, so, again, a little bit of luck,” Luus said. “And then, just had an open shot.”
Her hard shot went through the legs of von der Luft as she attempted to shuffle across the net to get in front of the shot, setting off a celebration as the Terps earned a berth in their third consecutive Big Ten tournament championship game.
“We’re just happy,” Luus said. “We’re looking forward to Sunday.”
