Terps Fall to George Mason, 3-2 in Fairfax

Photo courtesy of Allison Mize/Maryland Terrapins

FAIRFAX, VA – Despite a strong performance and dominating the offensive stats, Maryland women’s soccer (2-2-2) couldn’t overcome a late goal from George Mason (2-2-2), who scored three unanswered goals to complete a 3-2 comeback win.

Maryland started the match hot, with two freshmen combining to open the scoring. In the 13th minute, Taryn Raibon netted her first career goal, capitalizing on a well-placed entry pass from freshman Emily Lenhard. 

Raibon found herself in space and shot the ball past the Patriots’ goalkeeper Caldart Selamawit. For Lehnard, the assist marked the first of her career, showing the Terps’ young talent immediately impacting the field. 

The Terps continued to apply pressure, with Lenhard missing another chance ten minutes later, sending a shot over the crossbar in the 23rd minute. 

Maryland doubled its lead thanks to senior defender Katie Coyle. With the ball at her feet at the midfield, she dribbled her way to outside the box, where she unleashed a low shot that snuck past the keeper, marking Coyle’s first goal of the season and the second of her Maryland career. 

At this point, it looked as though the Terps might be cruising to a comfortable victory. However, George Mason wasn’t prepared to go quietly. 

The Patriots clawed their way back into the game with their first goal in the 37th minute, coming off a rebound in front of goalkeeper Liz Beardsley. The initial shot had been blocked, but a George Mason attacker poked the ball into the net in the ensuing scramble, cutting Maryland’s lead to 2-1 heading into halftime. 

As the second half began, George Mason quickly leveled the score. In the 48th minute, another scramble in front of the goal led to a loose ball fired into the net, tying the game at two. The Patriots’ ability to capitalize on second-chance opportunities and keep the pressure on Maryland’s defense proved pivotal. 

The Terps, however, were not deterred. In the 55th minute, Kelsey Smith came close to reclaiming the lead for Maryland when she unleashed a shot that clanged off the top corner of the crossbar. The near-miss was emblematic of Maryland’s performance throughout the night–they created numerous chances but struggled to find the back of the net. 

While the Terps continued to dictate play, George Mason found a way to strike one last time. In the 84th minute, the Patriots launched a long ball into the box, catching Maryland’s defense off guard. The ball slipped between two Terrapin defenders and was met by a George Mason attacker, who finished with a low-angle shot to give the Patriots a 3-2 lead with just minutes remaining. 

Maryland pushed forward in the game’s final moments, desperate to find an equalizer, but the clock ran out on their comeback efforts. The Terps finished the match with a significant advantage in several key statistics, outshooting the Patriots 20-8, including a 9-3 edge in shots on goal. They also earned nine corner kicks to Geroge Mason’s one, yet their inability to convert their chances proved costly. 

While the Terps will be disappointed with the result, there were plenty of positives from the match, particularly the contributions of the team’s younger players. Raibon’s first career goal was a highlight, and Lenhard’s vision and composure on the ball in her first career assist was a promising sign for Maryland’s future. 

The loss moves Maryland’s record to 2-2-2 on the season as they prepare for their next matchup against Towson. Despite the disappointment of the result, the Terps’ ability to control possession and generate chances leaves them optimistic about what lies ahead.