Midway through overtime, the Terps earned a penalty corner. Midfielder Bibi Donraadt inserted the ball to defender Maura Verleg, who passed it to midfielder Danielle van Rootselaar. 

Rootselaar took a few steps with the ball before firing a shot that sailed over Iowa’s goalie Grace McGuire for the game-winning goal. 

Rootselaar was the difference maker as No. 4 Maryland field hockey (10-1, B1G 4-0) defeated No. 3 Iowa (8-2, B1G 2-1), 2-1, in an overtime thriller snapping the Hawkeyes’ seven-game winning streak.

“We really had a rough time with the way they were pressing us,” head coach Missy Meharg said. “Ball speed was slow. We were sloppy. I’m just so proud of the team and the coaching staff for grinding it out, getting the 50-50 balls, increasing the ball speed, and finding a way to win.”

This was both teams’ third overtime game of the season and Maryland’s third game in the past four that have gone to overtime, winning two-straight overtime games. 

Except for the final four minutes of the third quarter and the game-winner, the game was a defensive battle. Turnovers were plentiful, with Iowa registering the only shot in the first quarter.

Maryland’s first shot came 24 minutes into the game off a penalty corner, but McGuire was there to save Rootselaar’s shot. The ball was loose around the circle, but no one could corral it. 

“You just have to trust that you’re good,” Meharg said. “Trust that it will come and trust that if it’s nip and tuck you’ll find a way.”

Maryland picked up the pace in the third quarter, firing seven shots and drawing three of their seven penalty corners, but Iowa broke the scoreless draw first. 

Hawkeyes forward Alex Wesneski intercepted a pass near the cage and pushed it past Terps goalie Paige Kieft, who started her sixth straight game, giving Iowa a 1-0 lead.

Iowa’s lead did not last long. Maryland quickly earned two penalty corners with Rootselaar finding the back of the net with a powerful shot tying the game two minutes later.

“Hitting the right side of the corner, just getting straight down to the coastline is what’s hard for them because when the goalie goes down, there’s just a post player there,” van Rootselaar said. “If the ball is hard enough, a post player can’t keep it out.”

After both teams found the back of the net late in the third quarter, the game returned to a defensive stalemate with only three shots combined in the fourth quarter.

Iowa earned a penalty corner with three minutes left in regulation and had a chance to earn the win. The initial shot hit the post, and Iowa had an open look as Kieft was sprawled out. 

Hawkeye’s forward Annika Herbine shanked her shot wide left, sending the game to overtime and setting up for van Rootselaar’s second goal.

With the overtime win, Maryland are on top of the Big Ten standings at 4-0 and is the last undefeated team in conference play.