COLLEGE PARK, Md. – Eva van Agt and Dominique Masters recorded goals, but Northwestern's late surge came up just short at Maryland on Friday afternoon, falling 3-2.
The contest was a rematch of last year's Big Ten tournament championship game won by the Wildcats, 3-1. NU also won last year's regular-season meeting between the teams in Evanston, 3-2.
Maryland had the best scoring opportunities through the open half of the first stanza on Friday as the Terrapins earned three penalty corners. However, NU was able to turn away the Terrapins on each occasion to keep the game scoreless.
The Wildcats finally were able to penetrate the circle on the other end of the field beyond the midway point of the opening half as the visitors created some quality scoring chances.
A feed from Lena Phillips from just inside the top of the circle made it through traffic in front, but the 'Cats weren't quite able to get a stick on a redirect attempt as the ball skimmed just wide.
Ashley Bernardi created a great chance of her own moments later as she got in alone on Maryland goalkeeper Sarah Holliday, but Holliday made the initial save and Bernardi's rebound attempt trickled wide of the cage.
Northwestern finally earned its first penalty corner of the game in the 28th minute and it paid off. Freshman Eva van Agt redirected a pass from Dominique Masters for her fifth goal of the year, giving the Wildcats a 1-0 lead.
Maryland managed to tie the game with 2:22 remaining in the first half on a penalty corner goal of their own. Anna Dessoye scored off Sarah Sprink's assist as the team took a 1-1 tie into halftime.
The Terrapins carried the momentum into the second half as two goals about a minute and a half apart put the hosts in control. Linnea Gonzales tallied her sixth goal of the year at 43:24 before Dessoya notched her second of the game at 44:12 to make it 3-1.
NU had trouble getting things going, but it became a game again with just under nine minutes remaining when Dominique Masters possessed the ball in to the end line from the left side and scored past Holliday to make it a one-goal game again.
Northwestern had one more opportunity in the closing seconds as Isabel Flens got to the end line and earned a penalty corner. The Wildcats took the corner as regulation expired and Masters' shot was on target but was saved by Holliday. The rebound came to van Agt who possessed the ball but the official blew the whistle to signal the end of the match.
The Wildcats asked for and received a video review of the play to receive one more chance, but the review went in Maryland's favor ane the hosts held on by the skin of their teeth.
NU fell to 6-3 on the season with the loss while Maryland improved to 4-3.
Northwestern is back in action at 11 a.m. Central time Sunday when it takes on Temple in Philadelphia.
The contest was a rematch of last year's Big Ten tournament championship game won by the Wildcats, 3-1. NU also won last year's regular-season meeting between the teams in Evanston, 3-2.
Maryland had the best scoring opportunities through the open half of the first stanza on Friday as the Terrapins earned three penalty corners. However, NU was able to turn away the Terrapins on each occasion to keep the game scoreless.
The Wildcats finally were able to penetrate the circle on the other end of the field beyond the midway point of the opening half as the visitors created some quality scoring chances.
A feed from Lena Phillips from just inside the top of the circle made it through traffic in front, but the 'Cats weren't quite able to get a stick on a redirect attempt as the ball skimmed just wide.
Ashley Bernardi created a great chance of her own moments later as she got in alone on Maryland goalkeeper Sarah Holliday, but Holliday made the initial save and Bernardi's rebound attempt trickled wide of the cage.
Northwestern finally earned its first penalty corner of the game in the 28th minute and it paid off. Freshman Eva van Agt redirected a pass from Dominique Masters for her fifth goal of the year, giving the Wildcats a 1-0 lead.
Maryland managed to tie the game with 2:22 remaining in the first half on a penalty corner goal of their own. Anna Dessoye scored off Sarah Sprink's assist as the team took a 1-1 tie into halftime.
The Terrapins carried the momentum into the second half as two goals about a minute and a half apart put the hosts in control. Linnea Gonzales tallied her sixth goal of the year at 43:24 before Dessoya notched her second of the game at 44:12 to make it 3-1.
NU had trouble getting things going, but it became a game again with just under nine minutes remaining when Dominique Masters possessed the ball in to the end line from the left side and scored past Holliday to make it a one-goal game again.
Northwestern had one more opportunity in the closing seconds as Isabel Flens got to the end line and earned a penalty corner. The Wildcats took the corner as regulation expired and Masters' shot was on target but was saved by Holliday. The rebound came to van Agt who possessed the ball but the official blew the whistle to signal the end of the match.
The Wildcats asked for and received a video review of the play to receive one more chance, but the review went in Maryland's favor ane the hosts held on by the skin of their teeth.
NU fell to 6-3 on the season with the loss while Maryland improved to 4-3.
Northwestern is back in action at 11 a.m. Central time Sunday when it takes on Temple in Philadelphia.