COLLEGE PARK, Md. – The University of Maryland women's soccer team was the victim of a late goal and couldn't find the equalizer in a 1-0 loss to Michigan Friday night in front of 1,153 at Ludwig Field.
The defeat evened the Terrapins overall record at 3-3-1 and their Big Ten mark at 1-1-0. The Wolverines improve to 7-2-0 on the season and 3-0-0 in the conference.
Michigan, a very defensive-minded team, allowed just one shot on goal to Maryland in the first half of play, but the Terrapins would regroup at halftime and find some opportunities in the second half.
Senior Shade Pratt had the first good look of the match for the Terps in the 49th minute with a good run down the right flank, but her shot from just inside the 18 went wide of its mark.
Junior Riley Barger played a brilliant through ball in the 60th minute and redshirt sophomore Gabby Galanti appeared to get behind the Wolverine backline with a well-timed run, but the side official saw it differently and put up the flag for offsides.
Michigan challenged in the 76th minute with a quick header by Nicky Waldeck, but junior keeper Rachelle Beanlands was right there to make the save to keep the game scoreless.
Maryland answered right back on the counter-attack. Senior Cory Ryan absolutely blistered a shot from 30 yards out, but Michigan keeper Megan Hinz was able to react in time to make the stop.
The Wolverines pressed the offensive beginning in the 80th minute and earned a pair of corner kicks that eventually led to the game-winning goal.
Maryland defended the second corner kick well, but the ball bounced back to Ani Sarkisian, who took the corner kick from the right side. Sarkisian drove a low ball into the six-yard box where Madisson Lweis was able to one-time into the Maryland goal in the 83rd minute.
The Terrapins had one last chance to tie the match with a corner kick opportunity in the 89th minute. Junior Shannon Collins sent the ball into the box where junior Erika Nelson got on the end of it with a header. Hinz was unable to get across the face of the goal to make the save, but Cassie Collins stepped in the path of the header and knocked it away from danger to preserve the Wolverines' lead.
Beanlands finished the game with three saves, while Hinz was credited with one stop.
“I was disappointed with how we started the match,” said Maryland head coach Jonathan Morgan. “We didn't come out with the right mindset, the right energy. We put ourselves in a bit of a hole in the first half just by not matching their intensity.
“I am happy with how we responded in the second half. Our soccer was very, very, good in the second half; created a lot of fits for them. At the end of the day, they are a good defensive team, a good counter-attacking team and they managed the penalty area better than we did. Ultimately, they scored on their one really good chance and with our one really great chance we headed it into a defender. I'm disappointed we didn't get the result and get at least a point out of this. While I'm happy with the second half, we have to find a way to win games and we didn't do so today.”
Maryland finishes its Big Ten home stand on Sunday, Sept. 21 when it welcomes Michigan State to Ludwig Field for a 1 p.m. start.
