In its 4-1 win against Liberty on Sunday, the No. 17 Maryland field hockey team requested a video review of a momentum-defining play for the second time in College Park.
Though reviews are available at the Field Hockey and Lacrosse Complex, the Terps were denied the opportunity Sept. 24 against Northwestern due to technology problems. In the game’s final seconds, with Maryland trailing by a score, coach Missy Meharg believed the Terps earned a penalty corner. It would have given Maryland a setup attempt to tie the game, perhaps forcing an overtime period. Instead, the Terps lost.
That wasn’t the case Sunday, when Maryland requested a second video review of a play, something veteran coach Meharg said she’s never seen. The sequence, which came about 15 minutes into the first half and eliminated a Liberty score, revealed not only Maryland’s approach to reviews, but also how desperate Maryland is to keep points off the board due to its inconsistent attack.
[Read more: Maryland field hockey caps strong weekend with 4-1 win over Liberty]
The play came after Maryland had scored twice, the second time in as many contests the Terps recorded two goals in the opening period. Still, slow starts and limited offense have plagued Meharg’s squad.
As the Flames advanced the ball into their offensive zone, Maryland defender Bodil Keus played the ball in the air. She battled to possess it while a Liberty player hit the ball with the back of her stick. Though the motion of hitting the ball with the back of a stick is illegal, the officials didn’t blow their whistles.
Once Liberty had possession, a Flames player hit the ball with a backhand stroke, sending it beyond Terps goalkeeper Sarah Holliday. Initially, it was a ruled a score. After the first review, Meharg called a timeout and discussed the ruling with the officials.
There was miscommunication: The Terps weren’t requesting a review of the shot, but rather the contact of the ball with the back of the stick that preceded it.
The officials wiped Liberty’s score off the board, as Maryland maintained its edge. The call reflected Maryland’s aggression when using reviews, which only players can request.
“We definitely wanted to fight for that, because we wanted to keep the lead,” forward Linnea Gonzales said. “2-0 is a pretty good lead. Missy’s been talking to us about using referrals smart. We did that today.”
Maryland’s decision to challenge the play — and the ensuing confusion — resulted in about a 15 minute delay, which left the Terps and Flames lingering on their respective sidelines. But for the Terps, who are averaging fewer than three goals per game, it made it clear how hard goals have been to achieve. Although the Terps scored eight goals over two games this past weekend, their streaky offense this season has led to one of the team’s worst starts this decade.
The availability of video replays enabled Maryland to preserve its tempo, which midfielder Brooke DeBerdine said decreased as the intermission approached. But due in part to the overturned call, Maryland boasted a two-goal lead at halftime and scored twice in the second half.
Meharg has urged the Terps to put thought into which calls they choose to review. On Sunday, that thought helped Maryland control the game.
“If you see something, say something,” Gonzales said of Meharg’s advice on replays. “Don’t be afraid to go for a referral. You never know what could happen.”
