This is a truly extraordinary coach and team that just won an extraordinary game: a double-overtime thriller over arch-rival UNC. It says something about Maryland that while their star player, Katie O'Donnell, the National POY, was held scoreless, UNC couldn't keep the rest of the Terps off the board. In essence, Katie was the perfect decoy and UNC couldn't contain the rest for the length of the game. Plus, the Maryland scorers are among the team's younger players, showing the way to the future; they included a freshman Hayley Turner, and two sophomores, Harriet Tibble, and the game winner, Megan Frazier who got the clincher with time running out in the second overtime.
This was essentially a battle between Maryland's high octane offense vs. UNC stalwart defense and while the stats showed Maryland had significant advantages on shots, 18-12, and penalty corners, 9-3, the Terps still had a difficult time cracking the UNC backline and especially their top notch goalie Jackie Kintzer. None the less, the Terps got the goals when they absolutely had to, coming from behind in the 2nd half behind Tibble to get it into overtime.
One thing that was clear was players from both teams were completely gassed. The exhaustion after tough national semi-finals on Friday was clear; both teams had to fight through it and in the end it was Maryland that had just enough fumes left in the tank to get over the top.
For Coach Missy Meharg, this is now 6 national titles as a head coach + 1 additional title when she was asst. coach to Dr. Sue Tyler back in 1987. Missy has had an unbelievable career and we are truly blessed for having someone like her here at Maryland. It was wonderful to see so many of her former players back in town this weekend for the Final Four, a tribute to the coach who has been mentor to so many.
I have pretty much run out of superlatives to describe Missy's career and her program. To say the least, this is one of the reasons why I keep going here at Maryland: it doesn't get any better than this. The Women's Lax title this past spring -- this Field Hockey title today -- incredible!
This was essentially a battle between Maryland's high octane offense vs. UNC stalwart defense and while the stats showed Maryland had significant advantages on shots, 18-12, and penalty corners, 9-3, the Terps still had a difficult time cracking the UNC backline and especially their top notch goalie Jackie Kintzer. None the less, the Terps got the goals when they absolutely had to, coming from behind in the 2nd half behind Tibble to get it into overtime.
One thing that was clear was players from both teams were completely gassed. The exhaustion after tough national semi-finals on Friday was clear; both teams had to fight through it and in the end it was Maryland that had just enough fumes left in the tank to get over the top.
For Coach Missy Meharg, this is now 6 national titles as a head coach + 1 additional title when she was asst. coach to Dr. Sue Tyler back in 1987. Missy has had an unbelievable career and we are truly blessed for having someone like her here at Maryland. It was wonderful to see so many of her former players back in town this weekend for the Final Four, a tribute to the coach who has been mentor to so many.
I have pretty much run out of superlatives to describe Missy's career and her program. To say the least, this is one of the reasons why I keep going here at Maryland: it doesn't get any better than this. The Women's Lax title this past spring -- this Field Hockey title today -- incredible!
