Following three straight 1-1 draws to open its 2022 campaign, Maryland women’s soccer (0-0-3) looks to break through with its first win of the season against No. 17 Georgetown (1-1-2) on Thursday.
The Terps’ most recent stalemate arrived at the hands of the University of Pennsylvania last Sunday. Just like in the first two games of the season, Maryland fell behind early but tied the match at a goal apiece.
The match started off as a defensive battle, as Maryland and Pennsylvania combined for just one shot attempt in the first 25 minutes. Eight minutes later, Sizzy Lawton got the scoring started for the Quakers off a free kick, firing one through the top left of the net.
In the 59th minute, Juliana Lynch tied the score with her first goal as a Terp. The transfer from West Virginia was held in check against Temple and Navy.
Strong defense the rest of the way resulted in the draw, resulting in the Terps’ third tie in as many games.
No one on the Terps offense has stood out above the rest in the early stages of the season, as Alina Stahl, Kam Fisher, and Lynch have all notched a goal. Stahl leads Maryland in points with four.
Following a three-game road trip, Maryland is set for a lengthy six-game homestand in College Park beginning on Thursday. The Terps hope to start September off with a statement win over Georgetown, who reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament last season.
The Hoyas have started the season playing .500 soccer themselves, but unlike the Terps, have already secured an early season victory. Georgetown convincingly defeated UMass-Lowell, 3-0, on August 21, but have yet to notch another win since.
Georgetown has yet to allow more than two goals in a match but enter with something to prove. Like the Terps, the Hoyas look to bounce back after a draw in their last match.
The Hoyas are fresh off a contest against NC State that started off as a tightly played first half in which neither side managed to find the back of the net, but Joseph Jameese’s goal for the Wolfpack less than a minute into the second half helped light a fire under the Hoyas.
Georgetown quickly responded through freshman Henley Tippins, who continued her hot streak to start the season with four goals in as many games.
Natalie Means put another on the board in the 78th minute to give the Hoyas the lead, but Jenna Butler evened the score in the waning minutes of the match, leading to Georgetown’s second draw of the season.
Tippins has been the driving force of the Hoyas offense, as no one else on the team has recorded more than one goal. Gia Vicari, Tatum Lenain, and Natalie Means all have notched a goal alongside Tippins’ four.
Meghan Ryan Nemzer is still searching for her first victory at the helm of the Terps. Maryland has yet to hold a lead in any of the three matches thus far, a feat that Georgetown has accomplished in three of their first four matches to start the season.
The match on Thursday will start at 7 p.m. and will take place at Ludwig Field in College Park.
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