No. 2 Terps Survive Scare from Boston College
from press release
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - No. 2 Maryland slid past a
previously undefeated Boston College team Saturday, 7-6, to gain
sole possession of first place in the Atlantic Coast
Conference.
Despite being held to its lowest scoring output of the year, the
Maryland defense allowed BC a mere nine shots in the match and
caused 14 Eagle turnovers. Brandi Jones and Karri Ellen Johnson led
the Terrapin attack with two goals apiece. Johnson, a sophomore
Tewaaraton nominee, also caused three turnovers and had a team-best
four draw controls.
Maryland (8-0, 3-0 ACC) started the important conference contest
with a 3-0 run, sparked by a pair of assists from Sarah Mollison. A
total of 20 minutes elapsed between Maryland's third goal and
Boston College's first as Jill Rekart put the Eagles on the board
at 5:53. Katie Schwarzmann pushed Maryland's lead back to three
with just under three minutes remaining in the half before the
squads exchanged goals in the period's final minute for 5-2 Terp
advantage.
Lauren Costello scored with 55 seconds elapsed in the second half
but Maryland quickly answered with a Johnson score at 28:20 to put
the game at 6-3. Costello gave the Eagles their fourth goal at the
19:29 mark before Johnson responded again, scoring the Terps final
score with 13 minutes left in the match.
A Merrifield goal at 4:48 appeared to give Maryland its largest
lead of the match, but the goal was reversed after it was
determined the junior from Hertfordshire, England, used an illegal
stick.
BC scored two more goals for a slim 7-6 Maryland advantage, but
Merrifield was able to cause a turnover and scoop up the ensuing
ground ball as the Terps ran out the final minute of play.
"This was a hard-fought ACC game and we were coming off a very
physical win against Georgetown on Wednesday," head coach Cathy
Reese said. "We controlled the possession much better in the second
half. Their goalie played really well and we were just unable to
stick a lot of shots."
BC goalie Sheila Serafino notched a career-high 14 saves on the
day. Maryland, which moved to 6-0 all-time against the Eagles, did
not turn the ball over in the second half.
