Sept. 17, 2010

Final Stats

COLLEGE PARK, MD. - Junior forward Jasmyne Spencer proved once again why she is one of the most dynamic scorers in the nation in the seventh-ranked University of Maryland women's soccer's 2-1 overtime victory over George Mason Friday night at Ludwig Field.

Spencer, a native of Bayshore, N.Y., was a workhorse for the Terps, playing 77 of the game's 94 minutes and taking a game-high nine shots despite battling a stomach virus. Maryland head coach Brian Pensky knew this victory was a testament to his team's perseverance.

"Tonight was a game where guts and battling and believing were going to be the difference," said Pensky. "For the second straight game we put ourselves in a hole and tonight became a little more difficult because we were without Sade [Ayinde] and Jas was fighting a stomach bug. Earlier this season in several other games where we had to battle back, the goals came somewhat easily, but that wasn't the case tonight. Our kids kept pushing forward and applying pressure on George Mason and thankfully Jasmyne is on our team."

The Patriots (4-3-1) took an early 1-0 lead with goal by Omolyn Davis in the 10th minute of play and time was becoming an issue when Spencer willed her way to tying goal. In the 80th minute, Spencer took the ball near the top right corner of the Patriot box and bulled her way through three GMU defenders to get a shot off. Patriot goalkeeper Alex Bodenschatz made the initial save, but Spencer followed her shot and was rewarded for her effort. Bodenschatz couldn't control the ball and Spencer fought off two more Patriot defenders to get to the ball and chip it into the goal to tie the score at 1-1.

Maryland had a good chance to win the game in the 87th minute of regulation when junior Ashley Grove used some slick footwork and good body positioning to create some space 17 yards in front of the George Mason goal. She got off a good strike, but Bodenschatz dove to her left and made a great save to preserve the tie and send the game into overtime.

The game-winning goal started innocently enough. A clearing kick by a Patriot defender sailed out of bounds, giving Maryland a throw-in near midfield. Junior Caitlin McDowell looked forward, but made the simple play, throwing the ball back to senior center back Colleen Deegan just past the midfield stripe.

The Patriot defense slumped back, which allowed Deegan a few seconds to survey the field. When she looked up she saw Spencer ready to make a run and Deegan sent a long ball over the top of the Patriot defense. With a step on her defender, Spencer got on the end of the pass with only the goalkeeper to beat. Instead of rushing the shot Spencer showed a great deal of patience, skill and technical skill by waiting for Bodenschatz to commit before taking a shot that bounced just inside the right post, giving Maryland a 2-1 come-from-behind victory.

The win brings the Terps' record to 8-0-0 this season and marked the second-straight season that Maryland has finished its non-conference schedule undefeated.

"Obviously we're excited to be finish our non-conference schedule undefeated," said Pensky. "But, now we get to get excited and look forward to moving on to league play and that starts with a tough game vs. No. 15 Duke."

The Terps will have nine days off before opening their ACC schedule on Sunday, Sept. 26 against Duke at 1 p.m. at Ludwig Field.

Game Notes:
• Maryland has now won 19 straight matches against non-ACC opponents dating back to 2008.
• The Terps are now 13-5-1 all-time against George Mason and have won the last five meetings with the Patriots.
• Jasmyne Spencer's two goals gives her 15 for her career, tying her for 14th on the all-time goals list with Ashley Gove and Sara Gustafson.
• Spencer's four points gives her 38 for her career, moving her up to 18th on the all-time points list.
• Spencer took nine shots vs. the Patriots, giving her 118 for her career and tying her with Kayla Sciascia for 15 on the all-time shots list.
• Spencer now has six game-winning goals for her career, moving her into a seven-way tie for eighth on the all-time list.
• Caitlin McDowell's assist gives her 18 for her career, moving her into a three-way tie with Jen Biscoe and Lindsay Givens for sixth on the all-time assists list.