Missed the game? Listen to a replay of the first half here and listen to the second half here. Listen to HIGHLIGHTS here
By Brian Kapur
“We are up for the challenge,” that’s the Terps have expressed all season and on Friday, Princeton provided a challenge, and the Terps rose to the occasion and won 7-5 to advance to the national championship game.
Princeton scored the first goal of the game, but the Terps answered back with three unanswered goals. The Terps surged ahead of the Tigers 3-1 in the first half on the strength of two Emma Thomas drag shots and a goal by Katie O’Donnell, going into the locker room with a two goal lead.
After halftime, goal keeper Alicia Grater took on two Tigers and made two saves with no defensive help. The Terps took the ball immediately down the field and Nicole Muracco fed O’Donnell the ball and the ACC Offensive Player of the Year did the rest by scoring the goal to blow the game open 4-1.
“The transition today was really what put us above them. From playing defense to automatic attack,” O’Donnell said.
But the Tigers would not back down. Princeton scored three goals to tie the game at four with about 17 minutes to go in the game.
“We settled a bit and they were not going to be embarrassed, there was no way that team was going to get blown out,” coach Missy Meharg said. “They have a vengeance mentally, they are strong players. I am not surprised that it happened. I would have liked to control it a little bit more.”
“When it was a tied score and the pressure was really on to perform again and finish, we have players that like that challenge,” Meharg said.
The Terps answered the challenge as freshman Megan Frazer scored the go-ahead goal with a rocket shot. Then O’Donnell put a perfect pass on Ameliet Rischen’s stick. Rischen did the rest as she put the Terps up two goals.
O’Donnell put the final touches on the Terps win with a knockout punch goal, and her NCAA tournament signal game record ninth point, to secure a date with North Carolina for the national championship.
“It’s my teammates...It’s not about me or my points. It’s about my (teammates) finishing them," O'Donnell said. "I can only do what I can do. I can put the ball in the net as much as I like to. But the assists don’t just come, it’s your teammates putting the ball in the net for you. Its great to have nine points, but I am just a single player on an entire field of a huge group of girls.”
The Terps will play the Tar Heels on Sunday at noon looking to repeat as national champions.
“For me this year is more important," O'Donnell said. "You have been through the process, you know what its like to win a national championship and you drive to win another one. Its definety not taken for granted. Nothing is taken for granted.
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