April 21, 2008
COLLEGE PARK, Md. -
The University of Maryland women's soccer team earned two ties this past week against formidable opponents Penn and the Canadian u17 national team. The Terps tied the Quakers, the 2007 Ivy League Champions, 0-0, and then rallied to score twice in the final 10 minutes to even the score at 2-2 vs. the Canadians, who are preparing for the u17 women's World Championship.
The Terps have played five games this spring, winning two and tying three. The draw against Penn was the second consecutive shutout for freshman goalkeeper Yewande Balogun - the first of which came against Rutgers one-week prior.
Against the Canadian u17 national team, the Terps had several quality chances to score, but could not convert. "Our possession and connectedness was very good in the first half, as well as much of the second," said Maryland head coach Brian Pensky.
Despite the good soccer from the Terrapins, it was the Canadians who scored first, getting on the board twice in a five-minute span midway through the second half. But the Terps dug their heels in and rallied to score twice in the final 10 minutes to tie the score at two.
The Canadians saw their lead cut in half when junior Mandy Paizs and freshman Caitlin McDowell combined with one another before slipping a ball through to freshman Annesia Faulkner. Faulkner took advantage of the wet conditions and fired an early shot to the near post that the Canadian keeper could not handle, making the score 2-1. Minutes later, sophomore Brittany Cummins took a quick throw-in to freshman Lydia Hastings. Hastings turned quickly and found the feet of redshirt junior Nataly Arias. Arias then slipped a wonderfully weighted pass to junior Kaila Sciascia who knotted the score at 2-2 with a finish to the back post.
"This was a real testament to the character of our team," said Pensky. "We had played so well throughout the game, and then all of the sudden we found ourselves down 2-0. Our leaders grabbed a hold of the group and we were able to fight back. Had there been five more minutes on the clock, we would have won the game."
In addition to playing the Terps, the Canadians played Ohio State (0-0 draw), West Virginia (2-0 loss) and Penn State (4-2 win) during their preparations for qualification.
The Terps return to action this Friday night at 8 p.m., when they host 2007 NCAA quarterfinalist West Virginia University at Ludwig Field.
