MINNEAPOLIS – The University of Maryland women's soccer team had its unbeaten streak come to an end at five matches with a 1-0 defeat at Minnesota Friday night at Elizabeth Lyle Robbie Stadium.
The loss evens the Terrapins' overall record to 5-5-6 and to 3-3-5 in Big Ten play. The Golden Gophers improve to 9-7-1 on the year and 6-4-1 in the conference.
“Unfortunate result tonight,” said Maryland head coach Jonathan Morgan. “We had our chances with some great looks at the goal and we weren't able to convert. Give redit to Minnesota for taking advantage of a transitional moment. We'll sit on this result tonight, but tomorrow our focus will be all about Wisconsin.”
Maryland picked up the attcking pressure midway through the first half, creating some opportunities.
Sophomore Natasha Ntone-Kouo earned the Terps a corner kick in the 24th minute and junior Shannon Collins delivered a quality service into the box, but Minnesota was able to clear the ball away from danger.
The Terrapins earned another corner kick chance just four minutes later and this time it proved a bit more dangerous. Junior Riley Barger sent the ball into the box where it bounced around a bit after hitting the ground. Senior Shade Pratt looked to have a line on the loose ball, but Gopher keeper Tara Hobbs was able to pounce on it just as it left Pratt's foot.
Maryland continued to challenge on set pieces in the 29th minute when redshirt sophomore Gabby Galanti was taken down about 10 yards outside of the 18. Collins played a nice ball toward the far post for Pratt, who had a step on her defender but lost her footing which allowed the Gophers' defense to recover.
The first half seemed to be winding down with neither team getting a good chance, but Minnesota put together a nice combination that found Julianna Gerens with a clean look at the Maryland net. Junior goalkeeper Rachelle Beanlands rose to the occasion and made the highlight-reel save to send the match into halftime scoreless.
Early in the second half, Beanlands made another special save, diving to her left to deny Josee Stiever.
Maryland's best chance of the night came in the 58th minute. Junior Aubrey Baker brought the ball down the right side and threaded a pass into junior Sarah Fichtner, who created enough space between two Minnesota defenders to get off a shot, but Hobbs was there to make the stop.
Baker again tried to stir things up in the 60th minute with a good back-post service from the right corner. Galanti got on the end of it, but her angle was too severe and her header was wide of the left post.
The scoreless tie was broken up in the 84th minute when a deflected pass in Maryland's attacking third led to a breakaway counter for the Gophers. Olivia Schultz found a seam and slipped a pass into Katie Thyken behind the Maryland back line and Thyken tucked her shot inside the left post and bounced it into the Terrapin goal.
The Terrapins finish up its two-match trip to the upper Midwest on Sunday, Oct. 26 when it plays at No. 12 Wisconsin at 2 p.m. ET at the McClimon Soccer Complex.
