COLLEGE PARK, Md. – The Maryland women's soccer team faces its second consecutive local opponent on Sunday as George Mason comes to College Park on Sunday. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m., and the match can be seen on BTN Plus.
Sunday's game is Hero's Day! Members of the military and all first responders will received complimentary admission to the game with proof of service ID.
Setting the stage
What: Maryland vs. George Mason
Where: Ludwig Field
When: 7 p.m./Sunday
TV/Stream: BTN Plus
Radio: WMUC
Live Stats: umterps.com
Twitter: @terpswsoccer
Instagram: @terpswsoccer
Terps Offense Comes Alive
Maryland has scored 12 goals through seven games this season, it's most through the first seven games since 2013. In addition, Jarena Harmon (5) and Chelsea Jackson (4) have scored multiple goals. Maryland did not have two players who scored multiple goals last season. The Terps are fourth in the Big Ten in goals.
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.
Harmony in Williamsburg
Sophomore forward Jarena Harmon leads the Big Ten with five goals after her tally against Navy. Harmon also added as assist against the Midshipmen and ranks t-2 in the conference in 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, scoring goals against Navy, TCU, Gardner-Webb and Appalachian State. Jackson tallied on a headed effort to tie the match against TCU before sliding a right-footed tap in past the keeper against Gardner-Webb.
She continued her strong play against Penn, assisting on Darby Moore's opener. She scored a clinical right-footed finish at Appalachian State.
The Round Rock, Texas native's four goals is tied for third in the conference and she ranks tied for sixth in point with nine.
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.
Turner started the opening seven games for Maryland, playing all 670 minutes of action. A versatile player, she is equally adept at playing in defense or the midfield.
Phillips made an immediate impact in her first start of the season, scoring on a 35-yard blast that was ultimately the game winner against Penn. Phillips' effort was nominated for Top Drawer Soccer's National College Goal of the Week. It was the first goal of her career. She has started four of the five games she's played this season.
Egyed has been a part of a rotating cast of keepers for the Terps so far this season. She has made 20 saves and earned one win.
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 midfield. 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 started in the back in Maryland's first seven games and has logged two assists off free kicks. She also has 11 shots, which ranks third on the squad.
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. Both have made starts this season.
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.
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 the first seven games at left back. 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.
