COLLEGE PARK, Md. – Mikayla Dayes scored the game-winner for the Maryland in the 84th minute as the Terps completed a 2-1 comeback win over Purdue on a rain-soaked Sunday afternoon. Despite pouring rain at Ludwig Field for the duration of the game and a 1-0 deficit, the Terps delivered two second half goals to move to 8-6-3 on the year and 4-4-1 in the Big Ten. Purdue drops to 6-8-3 overall and 2-6-2 in the conference with the loss.
The win pushes Maryland to 13 points in the conference standings, and positions the team to make its first-ever appearance in the eighth-team Big Ten tournament with two games remaining,
"I've never seen them reach down that deep," said head coach Ray Leone. "We've played hard in a lot of games in years past and this year, but not like that. That was another level in that second half. And in these conditions, that's really the only way you're going to win the game."
With the rain pouring down, the Boilermakers were the aggressors early taking five shots within the first 15 minutes of play. Purdue would get its goal not long after in the 24th minute when Sarah Griffith scored off an assist from Leanna Rebimbas.
The Terrapin offense forced the Purdue goalie to make three saves in the first half, but none of its six shots created much danger for the visitors.
Maryland came into the final 45 minutes of regulation desperate for a comeback trailing 1-0. Loren Sefick would even the playing field for the Terps in the 63rd minute when she spun away from the defense and scored an unassisted goal.
With the score tied at one and six minutes to play, Maryland got the lead when Alyssa Poarch carried the ball into the box and passed it left to find Dayes. The Brampton, Ontario native powered the ball into the left side of the net past the Purdue goalie for the winning goal.
The game would come down to the last 10 seconds when the Boilermakers got a free kick opportunity at the top of the Terrapin box, but Erin Seppi jumped on the loose ball to secure the Maryland victory.
Next up, the Terps travel to East Lansing, Michigan to take on the Michigan State Spartans on October 24, at 7:00 p.m.
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