Maryland Defeats Ohio State 3-1 in Big Ten Field Hockey Tournament

Maryland Defeats Ohio State 3-1 in Big Ten Field Hockey Tournament

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The Ohio State field hockey team’s 2026 campaign closed Wednesday evening at Buckeye Varsity Field in Columbus, where the Buckeyes fell 3-1 to top-ranked Maryland in the Big Ten Field Hockey Tournament quarterfinals. The result ends a 7-10 season for Ohio State and sends the 17-1 Terrapins, the tournament’s No. 2 seed, into the semifinals.

Ohio State’s official athletics site reported that Maryland asserted control almost immediately, scoring two goals in the first quarter at 3:32 and 12:16 to take an early lead at home against the Buckeyes.

Maryland Strikes Early at Buckeye Varsity Field

The Terrapins’ fast start set the tone for the afternoon. After Maryland went up 2-0, the Buckeyes cut the lead in half in the second quarter when Phillippa Jowett scored on a penalty corner at 29:06, in the final minute of the half. The corner came on a referral, and Victoria Kutz and Autum Kernechel earned assists on the goal.

Ohio State’s defense tightened in the second quarter, limiting Maryland to just one shot and holding the Terrapins scoreless in the frame. Neither team found the net in the third quarter, with both sides recording four shots and one save apiece.

Maryland added its third goal of the game at 53:02, and with the score out of reach, the Buckeyes pulled goalie Avery Alleva with 5:06 remaining in an effort to mount a comeback. The Terrapin defense held, preserving the 3-1 final.

Jowett Finishes Second on Team in Scoring

Jowett’s goal marked her third straight game with a score, and she finished her first season with the Buckeyes second on the team with six goals and 16 points. Alleva made three saves on the day and finished her rookie campaign with 51 saves. Katie Fichtner recorded her second defensive save of the season, and Ohio State and Maryland were even with five penalty corners each.

The loss closes the book on a season that saw the Buckeyes battle through a challenging 7-10 record, with Jowett’s six goals providing one of the team’s most consistent offensive bright spots down the stretch.

LIVE: Maryland vs. Ohio State | Big Ten Field Hockey Championship – 11/04/2026

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