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Field Hockey Pushes Top-Ranked Maryland to Overtime in 3-2 Loss
October 08, 2009 | Field Hockey
COLLEGE PARK, Md. (10/7/09) -- The fourth-ranked Princeton field hockey team pushed top-ranked Maryland to overtime but fell 3-2 on Nicole Muracco's game winner in the 78th minute on Wednesday night. Sophomore Kathleen Sharkey and Rachel Neufeld scored in the loss, while junior goalkeeper Jennifer King 11 saves.
Four days after Princeton knocked off then fifth-ranked Connecticut at home, the Tigers took a pair of one-goal leads in the first half of Wednesday night's game. Sharkey scored in the game's third minute to put Princeton ahead 1-0 when she knocked in a shot after Maryland goalkeeper Alicia Grater came out to challenge her. The goal was her 12th of the season and extended her goal-scoring streak to five games.
Maryland evened the score in the 10th minute when Megan Frazer scored after a penalty corner. Neufeld put Princeton back in front eight minutes later with her fourth goal of the season, assisted by freshman Julia Reinprecht, and third in as many games, and Princeton held the one-goal margin until the half.
Maryland scored the only goal of the second half six minutes into the period when Katie O'Donnell's shot eluded King as she came out to challenge her. Neither team was able to score in the ensuing thirty minutes and the game went to overtime tied at 2-2.
In overtime, Princeton had three shots and Maryland one before Muracco's game-winning goal. Freshman Michelle Cesan had two shots saved and sophomore Allison Behringer had a shot go wide.
Maryland outshot Princeton 20-15 and had 11 corners to Princeton's three. King finished the game with a career-high 11 saves, including five in each half and one in overtime. Grater made seven saves for Maryland.
The loss dropped Princeton to 9-2 overall this season, while Maryland remained unbeaten and is now 13-0. Princeton is now 2-1 this season in overtime games and 3-1 against ranked opponents. The game was Maryland's first one-goal game of the season.
Princeton visits American next Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m.