Coming into the Big Ten tournament No. 2-seed Maryland was eyeing a deep run. They finished the regular season finale riding high after a 4-0 win against Northeastern. 

The Terps’ opening match of the Big Ten tournament came against a scuffling No. 7-seed Ohio State team, which had lost four straight to end the regular season. 

Despite Maryland’s seeding advantage, Ohio State played spoiler for the second time this season, shocking the Terps with a 2-1 upset.

Maryland’s defense was dominant in the first quarter, not allowing Ohio State to get any shots in the first quarter. The Buckeyes struggled to have any possession as the Terps’ defense suffocated every Ohio State attack.

Despite Maryland coming out of the gate strong, the lack of finishing chances on offense came back to haunt the Terps.

Maryland outshot Ohio State nine to eight, but could not capitalize enough on the opportunities. The Terps also earned eight penalty corners but did not score on any of them. It was a different story for Ohio State, as the Buckeyes scored twice on just four penalty corners.

The game started slowly in the first quarter, with offense hard to come by for both teams. Maryland was able to control possession throughout most of the quarter, with Ohio State’s defense holding strong.

The Terps offense’s first chance to create some offense came after earning multiple penalty corners, but Maddie Stevens was able to make a save to keep the Terps scoreless in the opening quarter.

After dominating for nearly the entire first quarter, the script flipped on the Terps in the second, and it didn’t take long for the Buckeyes’ offense to get going. They immediately put pressure on the Terps, as Zella Bailey and Raleigh Kerst both had shots on goal. Alyssa Klebasko came through for Maryland with two saves.

Ohio State earned back-to-back penalty corners, and the Buckeyes made the second attempt count. Anne Marie Krebs took the insert from Makenna Webster and fired the ball past Klebasko to give Ohio State a one-goal lead less than four minutes into the second quarter.

Immediately coming out of the halftime break, Maryland’s offense went right back to where it was in the first quarter. The Terps earned corner chances,  but shots by Feliz Kuhne and Maci Bradford could not find the back of the net. 

Maryland’s offense broke through after it pushed the ball into the shooting circle. Maia Adamson took a pass from Maddie Vasilios and was able to capitalize to level the score.

After a third quarter in which Maryland seemingly controlled play for most of the period, Ohio State broke through late, scoring a goal to retake the lead on a penalty corner. Senior Katie Fichtner was able to get a shot past Klebasko with 2:21 remaining in the third quarter.

It was Ohio State’s defense that was able to take over the fourth quarter. The Terps were unable to get anything going as they tried to even the score. 

With just under five minutes remaining, Maryland pulled Alyssa Klebasko as the Terps looked to find a way to generate the game-tying goal.

The Terps would earn a penalty corner with 2:37 remaining in the game, but a pass right in front of the goal by Fluer Knopert went just past the reach of Maci Bradford.

Ohio State’s defense would hold on, propelling the Buckeyes to the semi-finals of the Big Ten tournament.

Maryland will have its fate in the hands of the selection committee, as all the Terps can do is wait and hope to hear their name called on Sunday.