As part of its four-game winning streak, No. 10 Maryland field hockey allowed just two combined goals against its previous three ranked opponents. For the first 24 minutes of Sunday’s contest against No. 8 Princeton, the Terps’ defensive prowess reigned true.

But the Big Ten’s second-best defense in goals allowed per game met its match after stringing together wins over No. 13 Saint Joseph’s, No. 16 Penn State and No. 12 Michigan. Princeton built a two-goal lead midway in the third quarter and never looked back.

Instead, it was Princeton’s elite defense that imposed their will on the Terps, suffocating Maryland’s offense for the first 51 minutes of the contest.

Despite a late offensive push, Maryland couldn’t find the equalizer with a flurry of fourth-quarter chances. The Terps, ultimately, fell to the Tigers, 2-1, for their first home loss of the season. Maryland drops to 6-3 on the year, while Princeton improves to 5-3.

While the Terps totalled nine shots, including four in the final period, they only had three shots on goal to show for. Outside of Maci Bradford’s fourth-quarter score, Maryland never really challenged Princeton goalkeeper Olivia Caponiti.

But the game kicked off with some early fireworks on both sides. 

Maryland got its offense started with a breakaway from Ella Gaitan, but Caponiti denied the early effort. Princeton took it right back down the field with a counterattack of its own, but the shot by Saylor Milone sailed wide. 

The quarter remained high-paced throughout, with Maryland using its defense to create offense off of multiple steals. However, the Terps couldn’t use that offensive pressure to their advantage against a Princeton defense that has been one of the best in the country.

While Princeton’s offense struggled to keep possession of its own, it still managed to create some chances against the Terps’ typically stout defense. 

When the Tigers did crack through Maryland’s backline, it suffocated the ball carrier and limited the quality of Princeton’s chances. A game that was expected to remain low-scoring throughout proved true with a scoreless first quarter. 

The second quarter was much of the same, with both teams starting to make runs towards the goal. Princeton put some pressure on the Terps midway through the quarter, earning a penalty corner, but Maryland’s defense held strong.

With 6:42 remaining in the first half, Princeton finally broke the deadlock, weaving its way through Maryland’s strong defense. Tigers star Beth Yeager found herself in a sliver of open space and fired the ball past Alyssa Klebasko for her fifth goal of the season, giving the Tigers a 1-0 lead.

Princeton’s lockdown defense shut down any attempt the Terps had to score a first-half goal of their own, taking that one-goal lead into the half. 

Coming out of the break, it was much the same as the second quarter. Princeton’s offense endured long spells of possession and maintained offensive pressure in the Terps’ defensive half. 

The few chances Maryland had in the third quarter were all quickly shut down by the Tigers, with the Terps failing to establish any consistent offensive rhythm. 

Princeton’s offense continued its constant attack, earning three penalty corners and outshooting Maryland seven to one in the quarter. 

“The third quarter really was disappointing,” said coach Missy Meharg. “They were chaotic, their individual defense was undisciplined.”

Klebasko kept the Terps in it for most of the quarter making three saves, but with under a minute to go, Princeton’s Ella Hampson broke through. Hampson fired a shot past Klebassko to take a 2-0 lead.

Maryland’s offense showed life with just over eight minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. After a great save by Capotini kept the Terps scoreless, Maci Bradford fired a shot past the Tigers goalkeeper cutting the Terps deficit in half.

“[We] put ourselves in a position to tie the game,” Meharg said. “Just a little bit too late.”

The Terps had one final chance late in the game, earning multiple penalty corners with just over a minute remaining. However, they couldn’t capitalize, as shots from Gaitan and Holloman never really troubled Princeton’s one-goal advantage.

Princeton’s defense held strong in the closing moments, preserving the lead despite the push from the Terps.

Maryland will look to bounce back against two unranked opponents. The Terps travel on the road to Ohio State and Michigan State for their first Big Ten matchups of the season away from College Park.