LINCOLN, Neb. – The University of Maryland women's soccer team rallied from two one-goal deficits to send the match at Nebraska into overtime, but the defending Big Ten champions scored in the sixth minute of extra time to earn a 4-3 victory Sunday afternoon at the Nebraska Soccer Field.
The Terrapins' record evens at 4-4-2 on the season and 2-2-1 in the Big Ten, while the Cornhuskers improve to 5-4-2 overall and 1-2-2 in conference play.
“It's disappointing to work so hard and not be coming home with three points,” said Maryland head coach Jonathan Morgan. “We talk about being tough in the penalty areas and unfortunately that was the difference in today's game. Nebraska was a whole lot tougher then we were in the box. I have to do a better job preparing because there's no way we should be leaving here with zero points.
“Credit to Coach Walker and his team. They were fighters today and earned an important result for their team.
“We'll take a day off and then get back to work on Tuesday. We have two very feisty teams coming to College Park and we need to respond appropriately.”
Maryland took an early 1-0 lead in just the second minute of play on a brilliant individual effort by junior Sarah Fichtner. After splitting a double-team in the right corner, Fichtner dribbled around two more Nebraska defenders to get to the corner of the six where she deftly placed a shot into the upper left corner of the goal from a severe angle.
Nebraska responded with a pair of goals in a span of five minutes to take a 2-1 lead. First, Caroline Gray scored on a long shot from distance into the upper right 90 in the 17th minute. Mayme Conroy followed that up with a finish from inside the Maryland 18 in the 22nd minute.
Senior Shade Pratt tried to respond for the Terps in the 23rd minute when she got inside the 18 and got off a quality shot, but Cornhusker keeper Kelly Schatz made the tough save.
Nebraska nearly tacked on another in the 30th minute, but junior keeper Rachelle Beanlands made a spectacular leaping save to keep Haley Hansen's shot out of the net.
Senior Cory Ryan leveled the match at 2-2 in the 40th minute with a display of pure determination. After winning the ball in the midfield, Ryan sent the ball to the left side where redshirt sophomore Gabby Galanti played a strong low service into the box. The ball bounced around a bit before Ryan got there and took a first shot, which was blocked by a Cornhusker defender. The loose ball came right back to Ryan and this time she was able to put it into the net past a diving Schatz.
Maryland's pressure continued early in the second half with Pratt being dangerous down the left side. She tried to send the ball into the box for a streaking Aubrey Baker. However, Pratt's service was slowed by a handball by Nebraska's Alli Peterson inside the 18, but the officials didn't see the infraction and failed to award the Terps with a penalty kick.
Pratt continued to be active in the 61st minute and created another opportunity. After taking the ball near the top left side of the Nebraska 18, Pratt cut back to the middle of the field and got off a low drive toward the left corner, but her effort went just wide of the net.
Nebraska regained the lead with a goal by its leading scorer, Jaycie Johnson, in the 68th minute, but Maryland refused to give in and rallied in the 74th minute to knot the score at 3-3.
The tying score began with a contested throw-in that the Maryland coaching staff convinced the officials to award to the Terps. Junior Shannon Collins' throw-in went to Galanti, but after the ball bounced off of her and a Husker defender it was Pratt who came away with the ball. She used a fantastic first touch to create some space inside the 18 and finished inside the near post past Schatz, who guessed Pratt would try for the open far post side.
Fichtner made her presence felt in the final few minutes. First she earned the Terps a corner kick in the 89th minute with some tremendous 1v1 work against the Huskers defense. Then she had a chance to end the game in regulation in the 90th when she found herself with some space near the top left corner of the Nebraska 18. Her chip shot toward the upper right 90 had Schatz beat, but it couldn't beat the crossbar and it bounced off the frame and away from danger.
Conroy ended the match in the 96th minute when a cross from Jordan Casey bounced off of a Maryland defender right in front of Beanlands and Conroy was able to get just enough of a toe on the ball to tap it inside the left post.
Maryland returns to College Park to host a pair of home games this week at Ludwig Field. The Terrapins play Purdue at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 2 before taking on Indiana at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 5.
