Terps Prepare For Season?s Last Home Matches
10/17/2014 11:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
COLLEGE PARK, Md. – The University of Maryland women's soccer team will face two more quality conference opponents in its last home matches of the regular season this weekend when it hosts Northwestern Friday and Illinois Sunday.
Both teams will test the Terps offense, which has struggled to capitalize on scoring opportunities in several recent draws. Head Coach Jonathan Morgan has made shooting efficiency a goal of the season and the 5-4-4 team will need to make good on that to earn a spot in the Big Ten tournament.
Friday's matchup will be especially critical for the Terps as either team could end up among the top eight teams in the conference and earn a postseason berth.
“There's a lot riding on this match,” Morgan said. “Our team is really excited.”
The Terrapin's forwards will face a strong presence in the goal against the Northwestern Wildcats to start the weekend. Keeper Lauren Clem already has four shutouts to her name in her first collegiate season. The 6-foot freshman was also a Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week earlier in the year.
However, the face in the net has less of an effect on players than taking advantage of the opportunity to shoot.
“I think we will score goals regardless of who the goalkeeper is,” Morgan said. “Sometimes they're looking for that perfect window … but you don't need that. Half chances are good.”
On the other side of the field, Maryland defenders and goalkeeper Rachelle Beanlands will need to respond to a Wildcat offense that has produced a season high of 20 shots against Wisconsin in its last game. Several of those shots came from sophomore Addie Steiner, who leads the team in scoring with eight goals this season. Steiner was also named a Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week early in September.
The Terps will celebrate Senior Day against Illinois Sunday, honoring forwards Shade Pratt and Cory Ryan in their final seasons. However, the Fighting Illini will likely push back against Maryland's home-field advantage.
Beanlands will have to contend with senior Janelle Flaws, the conference's leading scorer, averaging 2.29 goals per game. Flaws was named the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week the week in late September.
Beanlands stands a better chance at blocking shots than the other teams' goalies though, she's ranked above both Clem and Illinois' goalie with a .776 save percentage.
Illinois's style of play is typical of the conference – aggressive and possessive. The team's last game against Minnesota netted a combined total of three yellow cards and 28 fouls.
No matter which team Maryland faces, the team says they're ready to bring it.
“It's time we start rewarding ourselves,” Morgan said.
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Catherine Sheffo, a junior journalism major at the University of Maryland, is a contributing writer to umterps.com. |
