The No. 5 AU field hockey team suffered its first loss, 2-1, Wednesday to its rivals, the No. 3 Maryland Terrapins at Jacobs Recreational Complex. It was the most anticipated match-up in AU field hockey history, with a possible No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament on the line.
The Terrapins won the game on a play that at first appeared harmless when a player carried into a slight opening. Eagle junior goalkeeper Allison Fayfich stayed back at first, but suddenly changed her mind and ran out in an attempt to clear the ball from the circle.
Maryland's Meredith Long flew into the play and connected with the ball sliding on her back and firing a shot. Jackie Ciconte then sent the rebound past Fayfich and into the net with 4:42 left in the first half.
Though there were still almost 40 minutes to play, that would be the final goal in a game marked by tight spaces and few clear chances. But in spite of the Terrapins' defensive lockdown, AU controlled much of the game's tempo and practically matched the big-conference Terps on the stat sheet.
"This game showed us we can compete," said junior attacker Camila Infante. "We know Maryland well and respect them, but we know we are good and proved that today."
From the beginning, play was choppy. Both squads implemented the same trapping strategy, continuously shooting the ball out of bounds deep in the opposing team's defensive zone. It's a play similar to icing in ice hockey, but without the consequence of a shifted possession to opposition's attacking zone.
"Both teams were trying to avoid a combination game from occurring by getting extra people crowded over to a space, congest it, close it down and prevent their from being easy lanes," AU coach Steve Jennings said of the strategy.
The strategy worked for the first 12 minutes, as neither team registered a shot. That finally ended at the 22:30 mark, when Maryland found an opening and pelted a shot that Fayfich saved and steered to Infante, who started a move that resulted in an early AU lead.
Pushing the ball to into the Maryland zone, Infante drew the game's first penalty corner. Freshman Irene Schickhardt inserted the ball to senior Heather Maranzano for a drive that was deflected by the Maryland goalkeeper. That deflection fell right onto the stick of senior Javiera Villagra, who jammed the ball past the Maryland 'keeper ,sending the crowd of 1,188 into frenzy with 21:49 left in the opening half.
The Terrapins responded seven minutes later. Senior Tiffany Marsh inserted the ball to the Maryland line, which then maneuvered a pass to senior Emily Beach, who laced a one timer. The ball hit the back of the net before AU could react.
From that point on both teams played a game of keep away. Maryland slowed the pace down by taking itd time with insertions and trapping when openings became available.
AU earned few chances to even the score in the second half. The Terrapins' stifling defense kept the play to the sides, holding the Eagles to just four shots in the half.
The game marked the third time Camila and fellow Eagle Denise Infante, a sophomore defender, have competed against their sister Paula, a junior midfielder for Maryland.
"Every time we play against each other, it's a big game" Camila said. "So it's exciting and nerve wracking at the same time"