COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The Maryland women's soccer team takes on 2015 National Champion Penn State Sunday afternoon. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Ludwig Field.
Setting the stage
What: Maryland (3-10-1, 1-4-0 Big Ten) vs. No. 13 Penn State (8-2-3, 4-0-2 Big Ten)
Where: Ludwig Field
When: 1 p.m./Sunday
TV/Stream: BTN Plus
Radio: WMUC
Live Stats: umterps.com
Twitter: @TerpsWSoccer
Instagram: TerpsWSoccer
Terps Offense Comes Alive
Maryland has scored 21 goals in 14 matches this season, surpassing its total from all of last season (17 goals in 19 games). The Terrapins feature sophomore forward Jarena Harmon and junior Chelsea Jackson, who combine to be the best scoring duo in the Big Ten with 18 goals. Maryland did not have two players score multiple goals last season.
Maryland's three goals against Illinois were its most ever in a Big Ten win. Maryland has scored three goals in four separate games, the most since 2013.
FIrst-time scorers
Maryland has seen three players score their first career goals this season. Sophomore Cassie Phillips and redshirt freshman Darby Moore did it against Penn while junior Kate Waters tallied against Navy. Waters also has an assist this season. Freshman Jlon Flippens was the latest, scoring on a penalty kick against Northwestern.
Sophomore Kady Badham notched the first assist of her career against Gardner-Webb.
JARENA IN HARMONY
Sophomore forward Jarena Harmon is sixth in the Big Ten with eight goals after tallying two against Illinois. Harmon also has one assist and is seventh in the Big Ten with 17 points
Harmon's two goals against Illinois represented the first time a Maryland player had ever scored multiple goals in a Big Ten match.
She sealed Maryland's win over Penn with a headed tally in the 70th minute and scored three goals against William & Mary, subsequently being named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week.
Harmon's hat trick was the first by a Maryland player since Hayley Brock tallied three goals against Villanova in 2013. Her six points was the most by a Big Ten player in a match this season.
Jackson pRoVIDES A Spark
Junior forward Chelsea Jackson has not missed a beat after transferring from Oklahoma. She is tied for second in the Big Ten with nine goals. She has scored the last four with her head.
Jackson is tied for third in the conference with 20 points.
Leone returns home
Ray Leone is in his first season as Maryland head coach. The Severna Park, Md., native brings 20 years of experience as a college coach after nine years at Harvard, where he led the Crimson to five NCAA Tournament appearances and five Ivy League titles.
Leone has racked up 285 wins in his career, which ranks 21st among active Division I head coaches. In addition to Harvard, Leone has led Clemson, Arizona State and Creighton. He was a three-time all-conference selection as a player at Charlotte.
Leone earned the first win of his Maryland career against William & Mary on Aug. 25.
Turner, Phillips, egyed named big ten players to Watch
Maryland junior midfielder Madison Turner, redshirt sophomore goalkeeper Rachel Egyed and sophomore Cassie Phillips were named Big Ten Players to Watch.
Phillips made an immediate impact in her first start of the season against Penn, scoring on a 35-yard blast that was ultimately the game winner. Phillips' effort was nominated for Top Drawer Soccer's National College Goal of the Week.
Turner has started all 14 games. She notched two assists against Illinois.
terps add six freshmen
Maryland add six freshman after the graduation of 10 seniors in 2015. Former USA U-18 National Team call up Jlon Flippens headlines the group. The Philadelphia native ended her prep career with 92 goals, a William Penn Charter School record. She has started all 14 of Maryland's matches, leading the team with four assists and ranks third with 18 shots. She scored her first career goal against Northwestern.
Hannah Hoefs and Niven Hegeman were both local standouts at Linganore and Mountain Ridge respectively. Hoefs was a two-time Maryland All-State selection while Hegeman received that honor in 2015. Hegeman has started six games.
Lauren Frank helped Hebron High School win a Texas State Championship in 2014, while Julia New led The First Academy to six straight district titles in Orlando, Fla. New has started five matches.
New Jersey native Kate Swetz rounds out the group after winning the 2015 ECNL National Championship with her club team PDA.
Maryland's class is spread throughout the country, with six players representing five states (Maryland, Pennsylvania, Florida, Texas, New Jersey).
Transfer terps
The Terrapins will feature six transfers who will look to bolster the squad in 2016. The Maryland attack will now see Jarena Harmon, who scored seven goals at Pittsburgh last season, try and lead the line. In addition, Oklahoma transfer Chelsea Jackson, owner of five assists and two goals in two seasons as a Sooner, is another option up front for the Terps.
Former Northern Illinois player Marisa Knott can play a variety of positions after playing in 28 games in two years for the Huskies. She has started eight games. Maryland native Jenna Surdick started 13 games last season at Coastal Carolina. She made her first start as a Terp against Illinois.
Between the sticks, the arrival of Katelyn Jensen and Stephanie Senn bolsters Maryland's depth. Jensen had a standout freshman campaign at Kentucky while Senn is an experienced hand after starting 60 games over three seasons at Kent State. Both have seen action already this season.
