No. 4 Maryland field hockey dominated the time of the possession battle Sunday afternoon against No. 5 Duke, especially in the second half. But the Terps lacked a cutting edge in their attacking half, and that ultimately made the difference.

Maryland created seven shots and four on frame, but Duke goalkeeper Kaiya Chepow was equal to a number of its shots. The Blue Devils only needed two chances to outdo the Terps’ relentless attack.

On a day in which Maryland goalie Alyssa Klebasko failed to make a save, its offense couldn’t uplift the netminder’s struggles. The Terps dropped their second ranked clash in a row, this time, 2-1, against Duke.

The loss marks the first time Maryland has started a season 2-2 since 2017.

Early on, neither team was able to establish much possession. But Duke got its offense going midway through the first quarter, earning a penalty corner.

Julia Boehringer was able to convert. The Blue Devils’ strong ball movement found Boehringer in open space, where she fired the ball into the right corner of the net past Klebasko to give Duke an early 1-0 lead.

The Blue Devils kept the pressure on for the remainder of the opening quarter, as their defense limited the Terps’ offensive chances. Maryland couldn’t get a shot off during the first quarter.

The Terps started the second quarter off pushing the ball just outside the Duke shooting circle multiple times, but the Blue Devil defense held firm.

Maryland got its first shot from Feliz Kuhne after working the ball into the Blue Devils shooting circle, but Chepow denied the low shot.

The Terps remained on the attack for most of the second quarter, maintaining long spells of possession. But the Blue Devils’ defense packed the middle of the field and didn’t allow Maryland to create anything offensively.

Despite the continued pressure, Maryland headed into halftime with a one-goal deficit.  

Duke had the first chance of the second half as Madison Beach found Ashley Stockdale in the shooting circle. However, the Terps’ defense erased all the shooting lanes. Maryland immediately flipped the field, but Ava Cickavage easily cleared the ball out and the Blue Devils regained possession.

The Terps got another chance soon after as Djuna Eikelboom got the team’s second shot on goal, but Chepow comfortably deflected the ball away. 

After not recording a shot in the third, Maryland entered the fourth still trailing by one. 

Early in the fourth quarter, Jordyn Holloman took the ball into the Duke shooting circle and forced a penalty corner — the Terps’ first of the game. Maryland couldn’t capitalize as Callie Rogers sent the shot wide of the goal.

The Terps earned another corner shortly after, and they finally took advantage. Holloman rifled a shot into the far corner of the goal for her third score of the season to tie the game at one. 

Maryland kept their relentless offensive attack going, earning a third and fourth penalty corner with just over 10 minutes remaining. The Terps added another penalty corner to their growing total, but Holloman’s shot was denied. 

Once Duke applied some pressure, Maryland’s defense faltered, allowing it to break through for the game-winning goal. 

Alaina McVeigh tipped the ball past Klebasko after sliding in and getting her stick on the ball, giving the Blue Devils the lead with just over five minutes remaining.

The Terps emptied their net and applied constant offensive pressure on the Blue Devils, but couldn’t tie the game in the closing minutes as Duke’s defense held firm. 

Maryland will face Penn on Friday and will look to bounce back after losing both of its games over the weekend.