COLLEGE PARK, Md. – The Maryland women's soccer team open its Big Ten home slate with a clash with Illinois Thursday at Ludwig Field. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m., and the match can be seen live on BTN.
Setting the stage
What: Maryland vs. Illinois
Where: Ludwig Field
When: 7 p.m./Thursday
TV/Stream: BTN
Radio: WMUC
Live Stats: umterps.com
Twitter: @TerpsWSoccer
Instagram: TerpsWSoccer
Terps Offense Comes Alive
After scoring just 17 goals in 19 games last season, Maryland already has tallied 14 through nine contests this year.
The Terrapins feature forwards sophomore Jarena Harmon and junior Chelsea Jackson, who are the second-best scoring duo in the Big Ten with 11 combined goals. Maryland did not have two players who scored multiple goals last season.
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.
Sophomore Kady Badham notched the first assist of her career against Gardner-Webb.
JARENA IN HARMONY
Sophomore forward Jarena Harmon is second in the Big Ten with six goals after tallying against George Mason. Harmon also has one assist and is second in the Big Ten with 13 points
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, with goals in three of her last four games. Her five tallies ranks tied for fourth in the conference and her 12 points is fifth.
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 284 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 nine games and played every minute of the season.
Sensational seniors
Maryland will feature three seniors that return from the 2015 season; Natasha Ntone-Kouo, Hope Gouterman and Lisa Bianchini. After playing her first three seasons between midfield and forward, Ntone-Kouo started the opening four games in the center of defense.
Gouterman has played every minute of the season and has been an invaluable part of Maryland's effort. Bianchini ranks fourth on the team with eight shots.
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 nine of Maryland's matches, leading the team with three assists and ranking third with 13 shots.
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 the last three 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 Jersey native Kate Swetz rounds out the group after winning the 2015 ECNL National Championship with her club team PDA. New made her first career start against Rutgers in the Big Ten opener.
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 seven games. Maryland native Jenna Surdick started 13 games last season at Coastal Carolina.
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.
two-sport star
Senior Emily Kift has joined the women's soccer program after three years with the national championship winning women's lacrosse team.
Kift has played 21 games in goal for head coach Cathy Reese's squad and captured two national championships. The Santa Ana, California native will spend the fall at Ludwig Field before returning to lacrosse in the spring.
