Preview: Maryland Women’s Soccer Takes on No. 7 Ohio State in Columbus 

Photo courtesy of Allison Mize/Maryland Terrapins

Maryland’s women’s soccer continues its Big Ten road stretch on Friday as they face the No. 7 Ohio State Buckeyes at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium. The Terps (3-6-4) are looking to reverse their luck against the top-ranked opponent in the conference after a challenging start to Big Ten play. 

After Maryland’s 1-0 defeat to Illinois on Sunday, they will look to build on the defensive effort it displayed to upset the high-flying Buckeyes (8-1-3), who are unbeaten in conference play.  

The Terps have struggled to find the back of the net in Big Ten matches this season, having scored no goals in their first five conference games. Maryland will need more offensive production, especially from forwards like Kennedy Bell, who scored twice in the team’s 4-0 win over VCU earlier this season. Bell’s ability to stretch defenses and create chances could be a key for Maryland to end this five-game winless streak. 

Freshman Emily Lenhard has been a standout for Maryland, leading the team with three assists. Lenhard’s ability and playmaking will be essential in breaking down Ohio State’s strong defense, which has conceded just eight goals this season. The Terps will also look to midfielder Ava Morales, whose experience and composure could provide stability in the middle of the field. 

On the other hand, Ohio State is led by standout forward Kailyn Dudukovich, who ranks third in the nation with 11 goals this season, including six-game winning strikes. Maryland’s backline, anchored by goalkeeper Liz Beardsley, must be sharp to contain the high-powered Ohio State offense. 

The Terps have yet to defeat Ohio State in 12 all-time meetings, with a record of 0-10-2. Both ties have come in Columbus, where Maryland will hope to secure a positive result for Friday night. 

Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. ET, and the match will be streamed on B1G+.