Graduating former national player of the year Katie O’Donnell, who led Maryland to two NCAA field hockey titles in three years, left a leadership void as the Terrapins lost as many games this fall (four) as they had in the previous three seasons combined. But Sunday in Louisville, the Terps found their offense in time to pull off a stunning rally in the NCAA title game. Pulling its goalie and scoring twice in the final four minutes, Maryland forced overtime, then beat North Carolina 3-2 on a goal by sophomore Jill Witmer.
In Witmer, Maryland has another scoring dynamo with the same pedigree as O’Donnell. Witmer played at Penn Manor in central Pennsylvania. O’Donnell starred 40 miles to the north at Wissahickon High.
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It was the seventh title for 24-year coach Missy Meharg as the Terps became the first unseeded team to win. They had lost earlier this year to No. 1 UNC, and twice by a combined score of 9-2 to No. 2 Old Dominion, which the Terps upended in Friday’s semifinals 4-0.
– Kevin Dunleavy
