SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Sparked by five points from New York-native Kelly McPartland, Maryland topped Syracuse 12-10 in a top-five showdown at the Carrier Dome on Monday night.
McPartland led the Terps (8-0, 2-0 ACC) with a hat trick and two assists as Maryland defeated the Orange in a rematch of last season’s national semifinals. Zoe Stukenberg, Erin Collins and Beth Glaros added two goals each. Brooke Griffin, Taylor Cummings and Halle Majorana each posted one tally to keep the Terps perfect in 2014.
After an early goal by Syracuse (6-1) two minutes into the game, Maryland answered with a pair of scores a minute apart around the 27-minute mark with tallies by freshman Stukenberg and sophomore Majorana for a two-goal Terrapin lead. McPartland assisted on both scores.
The Orange regained the lead with tallies by Kayla Treanor and Katie Webster at 16:39 and 14:51 for a 3-2 score. A mere 11 seconds later Glaros grabbed the draw and took it half the length of the field for the equalizer before Collins nailed a free position for a 4-3 Maryland advantage at 12:12. McPartland gave the Terps their biggest lead of the half with a score at 11:18.
Syracuse capped the first 30 minutes of play with a pair of scores, including one with six seconds remaining, for a 6-5 halftime tally.
McPartland snagged the opening draw of the second half and took it herself for a 7-5 Maryland advantage 17 seconds into the period. Gabby Jaquith answered with a score at 27:10 to shrink the Terrapin lead to one. Griffin put the Terps back up by a pair with a hard-fought score in traffic 5:24 into the second half.
Stukenberg found the back of the net despite being swarmed by three Syracuse defenders for a 9-7 Maryland lead before Cummings put the Terps up by three at 20:23.
The Maryland defense, led by a stout showing by Megan Douty who was tasked with defending Orange top scorer Treanor, kept Syracuse off the board for 10 minutes until Webster shrunk the Terrapin cushion to two with 12:43 to play.
After a stellar re-defending effort by the Maryland attack, Collins provided the Terps with their 11th goal of the contest with a transition score from Stukenberg at 10:01.
Webster hit a free position to make it an 11-9 score with six minutes remaining in the conference showdown. Maryland’s captains teamed up to give the Terps a 12-9 lead with a Glaros goal from Griffin at 2:12 before Treanor answered with a quick tally 10 seconds later for a two-goal contest.
A big save by Abbey Clipp and stellar possession play down the final stretch gave the Terps the early-season victory.
Collins, Glaros and Cummings each posted four draw controls to help the Terps win the critical category 15-9.
