COLLEGE PARK, Md. – The University of Maryland women's soccer team set a school record for ties in a season with a 0-0 draw against Northwestern Friday night at Ludwig Field.
The tie gives the Terrapins a 5-4-5 record for the season and a 3-2-4 mark in Big Ten play. The Wildcats are now 5-7-3 overall and 1-6-2 in the conference.
“The kids worked hard tonight,” said Maryland head coach Jonathan Morgan. “They competed, they battled, they threw their bodies to block shots, they committed to 50-50 balls – they just competed. Our soccer wasn't as good as we would have liked it to have been and we weren't as dangerous as we were hoping to be. But, from a competition standpoint, the kids really gave everything they had. I can't ask any more from them. We need to be a little better in our execution when we're in the attacking half, make better decisions in the penalty area and be more confident when we take our chances.”
Northwestern was content to sit back and play a conservative counter-attacking style that limited Maryland's quality opportunities.
The first chance came in the 13th minute, but senior Shade Pratt's attempt from outside the 18 was stopped by Wildcat keeper Lauren Clem.
An awkward beginning to a chance nearly turned golden for the Terps in the 25th minute. Senior Cory Ryan got her feet entangled with a Northwestern defender. She not only managed to keep her balance, but maintained possession of the ball and got off a rocket from 30 yards out that seemed to surprise Clem, who could only manage to knock the ball down.
Just prior to halftime Maryland had another opportunity from outside the penalty area when redshirt sophomore Gabby Galanti tried from distance on the right side, but her effort was stopped by Clem.
Maryland made some adjustments during the halftime intermission and created some dangerous situations, but the packed-in Wildcat defense didn't allow for much breathing room and many of the Terps' shots were blocked before even reaching the goal.
One try the Wildcats couldn't pack things in on came in the 73rd minute when Galanti was taken down just outside the 18. Junior Shannon Collins lined up the free kick and found a good line with a well-struck ball, but her effort went over the crossbar.
The best chance of the night came just five minutes later on a terrific combination play. Freshman Madison Turner played the ball to the top of the 18 for junior Alex Doody, who moved it on with a simple touch for junior Sarah Fichtner on the left side of the 18. She got off a solid shot toward the upper right 90, but Clem made a diving save going to her left to keep the match scoreless.
Neither team could get much going in the first overtime period, but Maryland pushed forward and created some chances over the final 10 minutes of the match.
Two came on corner kicks that ended with headers that were wide of the goal by junior Sarah Molina and sophomore Natasha Ntone-Kouo, respectively.
The best chance in the second OT came in the 106th minute when Fichtner weaved her way through three Northwestern defenders to get in front of the goal inside the 18. She worked to create a better angle for her shot, but that may have cost her and allowed the Wildcat defense enough time to recover and block her attempt.
Maryland junior keeper Rachelle Beanlands earned her sixth shutout of the season, which is the most for a Maryland goalkeeper since 2011 when Yewande Balogun registered nine shutouts. Overall, this is Beanlands' 14th career clean sheet, which moves her into fourth place on the all-time list, passing Riki-Ann Serrins, who had 13.5 shutouts from 1997-2000.
The match vs. the Wildcats was the third consecutive overtime game for the Terps, which is the first time that has happened since 1993. This is the first time in the program's 28-year history that the team has recorded three-straight draws.
The fifth tie of the year breaks the old school record of four, which was previously set in 2011, 2006 and 2004 prior to this year.
Maryland finishes up its 2014 regular season home schedule on Sunday, Oct. 19 when it hosts Illinois at Ludwig Field at 1 p.m. Seniors Shade Pratt and Cory Ryan will be honored in a pregame ceremony.
