By Andrew Diveley

Despite a valiant defensive effort, No. 5 Maryland field hockey fell to No. 2 Northwestern, 1-0, in a tightly contested Big Ten matchup Friday evening. 

The Wildcats capitalized on one of their numerous penalty corners to edge out the Terps, who were unable to break through Northwestern’s near-impenetrable defense.

Northwestern entered the game undefeated at 8-0, allowing only one goal all season. The Wildcats — led by the reigning Big Ten Goalkeeper of the Year Annabel Skubisz — showcased why they hold the top defense in the Big Ten. 

Maryland — coming off a two-game win streak — looked for a breakthrough but struggled to convert scoring opportunities.

Northwestern set the tone early with aggressive play in the first quarter. The Wildcats earned multiple penalty corners, keeping Maryland goalkeeper Alyssa Klebasko busy. Klebasko made a highlight save in the 6th minute deflecting a high shot from Ilse Tromp, but Northwestern’s pressure persisted. 

By the 11th minute, the Wildcats broke through when Tromp scored off a penalty corner, sending a high-speed shot into the right side of the cage. The goal was Tromp’s third of the season. Lauren Hunter and Ashley Sessa assisted on the score.

Maryland earned a penalty corner late in the first quarter, but was unable to capitalize as Hope Rose’s shot was blocked. The Terps struggled to find their rhythm in the face of Northwestern’s relentless defense, failing to register a shot on goal in the opening 15 minutes.

The second quarter saw Maryland begin to find more opportunities, though they were still limited by Northwestern’s strong midfield and backline. The Terps earned several penalty corners but could not convert. Their best chance came in the 24th minute when Emma Deberdine’s close-range shot was denied by a sprawling save from Skubisz. 

Despite increased offensive pressure, Maryland entered halftime down 1-0.

“I’m not sure we did that as well as we can,” Maryland head coach Missy Meharg said. “And as I’ve said, this is going to be, you know, the red zone is going to be our continued work in progress.”

The third quarter saw a return to Northwestern’s dominance as the Wildcats earned several more penalty corners. Klebasko remained sharp in goal for Maryland making multiple saves, including a crucial block off a Tromp shot in the 38th minute. However, the Terps struggled to maintain possession, frequently turning the ball over and allowing Northwestern to control much of the play.

In the fourth quarter, Maryland pressed for an equalizer but continued to face difficulty breaking through Northwestern’s defense. The Wildcats earned two more penalty corners early in the quarter, but Klebasko once again came up with impressive saves to keep Maryland within striking distance. 

As the clock wound down, Maryland pulled Klebasko for an extra field player desperately seeking a tying goal.

Despite a late offensive push, Maryland could not find the back of the cage. Skubisz continued to stand tall in goal for Northwestern, making back-to-back saves in the 54th minute to preserve the shutout. The Terps earned a penalty corner with just over two minutes remaining but failed to convert, as their final shot went wide.

“I think Maryland played a really nice brand of hockey,” Meharg said. “We just got to figure out that goal line area.”

Northwestern’s defensive unit, which has been the backbone of their unbeaten season, remained unshakable. The Wildcats finished the game with 11 penalty corners to Maryland’s six, and the lopsided battle for set pieces ultimately proved to be the difference.

Tromp was Northwestern’s offensive powerhouse, firing seven shots, six of which were on goal. No other Wildcat managed a shot on target, emphasizing Tromp’s pivotal role in the victory.

With the win, Northwestern improves to 9-0 on the season, recording their eighth shutout in nine games. Maryland drops to 5-3, despite a strong effort from Klebasko who finished with several key saves — four total — to keep the Terps in the contest. 

This is Maryland’s 5th consecutive loss to Northwestern and the 15th game between the two teams — out of the 18 games they’ve played — to be decided by a single goal.

The Terps will look to bounce back as they head to Bloomington next week to face Indiana.