By Ben Tugendstein

Maryland fought hard Saturday afternoon at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium in Columbus, but a first half deficit was a bit too much to overcome as the Terps tied Ohio State 1-1.

The Terrapins started out slow allowing a golden Buckeye opportunity in the tenth minute. But a free kick from just outside the penalty box sailed just wide right. Maryland responded with their own chance just a few minutes later as a fantastic corner kick from Riley Barger set up Cory Ryan but two Buckeye defenders turned the chance away.

It was a couple of Ohio State defenders again who squandered a promising Maryland attack a little later in the half, as Shade Pratt crossed the ball to Shannon Collins whose shot was blocked before the shot even had a chance to sneak by the goalkeeper.

Then with the first half winding down, Ohio State forward, Nichelle Prince received a long pass and slipped by Terrapins goalie Rachelle Beanlands, who mistakenly wandered too far off her line as Prince knocked it in the open net to put the Buckeyes up 1-0 heading into the half.

Outstanding passing early in the second half led to the Terps equalizer. Pratt and Natasha Ntone-Kouo executed a beautiful give and go leading to a cross where the ball ricocheted off a Buckeye defender for an own goal.

The Terrapins had a few more chances throughout the rest of regulation but Ohio State would not yield a go ahead goal and the game headed into overtime.

The best opportunity for either team came at the very end of the second half of overtime. Maryland’s Gabby Galanti centered the ball to Pratt who could not redirect accurately, followed by a desperate shot by Sarah Fichtner, but Ohio State’s goalkeeper Megan Geldernick picked it off before the possible shot.

The Terrapins now stand at 5-4-4 overall and 3-2-3 in the Big Ten. Their next game is at home on Friday at 7 p.m. against Northwestern.