No. 1 field hockey clips No. 10 Cavs with overtime goal

Early in September, the Terrapin field hockey team watched Old Dominion pull its goalie in a last ditch effort to get on the board. After the game, coach Missy Meharg said her team wouldn't hesitate to pull its goalkeeper if the move presented the best chance to win.

A month later, she finally made good on her promise as the No. 1 Terps escaped Charlottesville, Va., with a 4-3 win against No. 10 Virginia in overtime Saturday.

The moment came after midfielder Paige Selenski put the Cavaliers on top with eight minutes remaining on her second goal of the game. The late deficit put the Terps in position to unveil the unorthodox procedure, and Meharg inserted back Amanda Himmelheber as an extra field player.

"You have to look at certain stages of the game as to when's the best time to pull something like that," Meharg said. "I just thought, let's put [Virginia] under as much pressure as possible and get this goal back right away."

The goal didn't come immediately, but the Terps were able to double-team Cavalier attackers and regain possession.

The pressure earned the Terps a penalty corner, and forward Nicole Muracco deflected a shot by back Emma Thomas. The goal evened the score at 3-3 with 4:15 left in the game.

"We didn't play a great game, but it was a good experience," Muracco said. "We got to try a different formation. When tournament time comes around, we have that experience if we're down."

The Terps carried the momentum into the extra period, and Thomas managed the game-winning score with 4:48 left in the first overtime.

Thomas carried the ball down to the end line, where a quick dribble move drew Virginia goalie Amy Desjadon and allowed Thomas to push the ball in for the win.

"Her being so patient and finding her way into the lineup, it's very fitting that she found herself in this role," Meharg said.

The team's mettle has been tested recently, but once again the Terps persevered. The win marked the second come-from-behind victory in the past week.

Even when playing from behind, the Terps have proven confident. It's an impressive trait, especially for a team that enjoys so many lopsided victories.

"That's a big difference between this team and any other since I've been here," Muracco said. "It just shows how much we trust each other and trust our coaches. Some parents thought we were crazy [when we pulled our goalie], but we never thought of it that way. We were like, 'This is what we have to do.'"

The luxury of having Himmelheber ready to throw on the kicking gear as the Terps 11th player in the field proved helpful. She holds down the back line, bumping another defender up to pressure the ball.

Himmelheber's athleticism and experience playing lacrosse have helped her adapt to the role.

When Old Dominion pulled its goalkeeper against the Terps, the players said after the game they had never seen the tactic before. But following the win, they were singing its praises.

"Strategically, you can stretch the defense," Muracco said. "It gives you a huge advantage in the attacking zone numbers-wise. It's risky, but when you're down, you have to try something."

Meharg agreed. She was happy to have picked the right moment.

"It's a huge risk," Meharg said. "But it's better to take a risk than to not win."

mkatzdbk@gmail.com