Maryland women’s soccer ends season with victory over Purdue, 3-1

After a back-and-forth first couple of minutes, midfielder Ava Morales took it upon herself to get the Maryland offense going. Nearly six minutes in, she took a shot right at Purdue goalkeeper Kailey Kimball, who successfully got in front of the ball. 

However, the play got interesting when the ball made its way through her hands, dribbling behind her into the vacant net.

This would give the Terps their first lead of the day, and wouldn’t even be Morales’ only goal of the day, but oddities continued to persist. In one of the stranger games Maryland has benefitted from, this wouldn’t even mark the only time they’d score off of a blatant Purdue mistake in goal.

An eerily similar goal with forward Alyssa Poarch in the second half was the dagger, as Maryland women’s soccer ended its season on a high note, downing Purdue, 3-1.

Both teams came out of the kickoff ready to battle, as Purdue and Maryland both made deep runs into one another’s territory before defenses caught up to pick off the passes. The first five minutes saw a number of potential close-range shots become turnovers.

At the 5:54 mark, however, the Terps seized their opportunity to take the lead early, something they’ve struggled with all season long. 

Morales sliced through the Purdue back line, arriving face-to-face with Kimball, and shot from several feet from the goal. Kimball tried meeting the ball with her hands, but failed to get a handle on it, allowing it to slowly roll behind her into the net. 

Morales’ goal gave Maryland a 1-0 lead, and it was her first score this season.

The Maryland defense started off strong, as Purdue took until the 24th minute to register its first shot.

One minute later, however, the tides changed. Purdue forward Kayla Budish received the ball past midfield and surgically maneuvered the Maryland defenders in her path, and capitalized on a clean shot after Maryland goalkeeper Emory Wegener’s dive took her out of the play.

The goal by Budish tied the match at one.

The Terps rallied right back after Purdue pulled even. When the Boilermakers’ defense turned the ball over near their own goal at the 30’ mark, Morales capitalized as she took the ball into open space, drove closer, and fired away right out of the goalkeeper’s reach. Morales now had both of her goals this season in one day, and this one put Maryland ahead 2-1.

Purdue continued to loom as a threat as the half entered its final minutes, culminating in midfielder Emily Mathews’ free kick at the 40’ mark. The ball hit the top of Maryland’s crossbar and bounced back into the field, but the Terps cleared it before another Boilermaker could take a stab.

Halftime commenced with Purdue holding a 6:3 shot advantage, despite the Terps having scored twice as many goals to that point.

Emma Tompkins opened in goal in the second half for Purdue, relieving Kimball after she conceded two goals without recording a save.

The Boilermakers came out of the break still looking to play aggressive, driving through Maryland’s side of the field and taking shots at the same high clip. They came close a few times, as several second half shots missed just inches off the mark.

In the 66th minute, Poarch scored in her final game with the Terps. Poarch’s shot went right at Tompkins, but the goalkeeper let the ball loose as it went straight through her hands into the back of the net, pushing the score to 3-1 in favor of the Terps.

Maryland had one of its most efficient outings of the season, converting on three of its ten shots in the match.

Purdue continued to fight down the stretch but it wasn’t enough, as Maryland secured the 3-1 win.

Maryland finished the season on a two-match win streak after the Terps were eliminated from Big Ten contention, ending the fall on a positive note.