COLLEGE PARK, Md. – The Maryland women's soccer team created dangerous chances throughout the match, but ultimately fell 1-0 to Wisconsin at Ludwig Field Saturday night.
Maryland's nine seniors were honored before the match as a part of Senior Night festivities. Riley Barger, Rachelle Beanlands, Shannon Collins, Amanda Gerlitz, Erika Joab, Sarah Molina and Kayla Shea all started in their final match at Ludwig Field.
“It was a good performance,” head coach Jonathan Morgan. “I'm happy with how hard the kids played. The seniors played hard and I was happy to see how hard the underclassman played for them tonight.”
After an early period controlled by the Badgers, the Terps started to gain a foothold in the game. McCune threaded a nice through ball to the feet of Barger, but goalkeeper Caitlyn Clem corralled her dangerous cross with 23 minutes left in the half..
In the 29th minute, sophomore Kate Waters found a deflected pass in the left side of the box but was unable to finish on a right-footed effort. Sophomore Alex Anthony got a foot to the ensuring corner, but a Badger defender kept the ball out.
Beanlands preserved the shutout in the 39th minute with a fantastic diving save that denied Micaela Powers.
Sophomore Madison Turner created the Terps' best opportunity in the opening half in the 41st minute. Turner found some space outside the left part of the box and let fly from 20 yards, only to see her attempt palmed over the bar by Clem.
Anthony almost gave the Terps the lead just a minute into the second half. The sophomore received a pass just inside the box and fired a shot that went just wide of Clem's left post. The 60th minute saw McCune fly in to head a Barger corner just beyond the post.
In the 69th minute, a ball came out to Sarah Fichtner off a failed Badger clearance, but the senior's effort was blocked. The Terrapins controlled that 20 minute stretch of the second half with Gabby Galanti and Madison Turner both giving the Wisconsin back line trouble in the final third.
Wisconsin tallied off a corner in the 81st minute. Powers was on the end of a flick-on header and chipped the ball past Beanlands for the only tally of the contest. Maryland pushed on for the final nine minutes, but was unable to find an equalizer.
Anthony led the Terrapins in shots and now has 91 for the season, a mark that leads the Big Ten. Molina also notched a shot.
The Terrapins return to action Wednesday for the season finale at Nebraska. Action is scheduled to get underway at 8 p.m.