COLLEGE PARK, Md. -- Top-seeded Maryland advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament with a 4-1 win against American on Saturday.
Junior Katie Gerzabek scored twice for the Terrapins (20-1), while sophomore Anna Dessoye added a goal and an assist to help the Terps to the NCAA second round on Sunday.
“This time of year, advancing is great,” Maryland head coach Missy Meharg said. “I’m very proud of the women for finding a way. American is an excellent team. Today, they came out with a very different game plan than they did when we played them earlier in the season in Washington D.C., which was very much expected because Steve Jennings is a fantastic coach. We’re just really pleased to be advancing.”
Thirteen minutes in, Dessoye put Maryland on the board first when she cracked a hard shot from the top of the circle and ricocheted in off American’s keeper. Junior Steffi Schneid picked up the assist on the play that gave the Terps a 1-0 lead.
Almost exactly three minutes later, senior Jill Witmer fed junior Katie Gerzabek for a quick shot from the right side of the circle for the two-goal lead.
A minute and a half after that, American (15-5) scored off a penalty corner when Alex McMackin deflected in the shot.
With 2:55 left in the first, Dessoye fed Witmer for a hard shot from the right side again that banged into the left corner of the cage. It was Witmer’s 17th goal of the year for a 3-1 lead at half.
Gerzabek added her second goal of the day with 8:55 remaining in the game. Schneid fed her a pass for a backdoor shot for the 4-1 lead.
Maryland outshot American 8-6 and both teams had four penalty corners. Goalkeeper Natalie Hunter picked up two saves on the day.
Maryland will play Princeton at 2 p.m. Sunday. The winner of that match will advance to next weekend’s NCAA national semifinals in Norfolk, Va.
