After playing in six overtime games this season, it was only fitting that the Maryland women’s soccer team (7-7-3) played some bonus soccer before tying Michigan State (6-10-1) 0-0.
Before the game started, Maryland honored their six seniors who would be stepping on Ludwig Field for the last time in their careers. Zoe Clark, Kate Waters, Hope Gouterman, Natasha Ntone-Kouo, Chelsea Jackson and Madison Turner were all joined by family on the field during the pregame ceremony.
“It’s pretty emotional,” said senior Hope Gouterman.
With the added motivation of trying to send the fans home happy one last time and win for their seniors, the Terps came out aggressive on offense. Although they did not have much to show for it, Maryland looked more comfortable and poised on the attack.
This continued into the second half, where the Terps once again applied constant pressure to the Michigan State defense. Maryland would finish with six shots on goal, a strong improvement from their five game stretch where the Terps had almost zero action on offense.
“This is the game we played for them,” said sophomore defender Jlon Flippens. “You could see it on the field.”
Unfortunately for Maryland, Michigan State goalie Reilley Ott was impressive in the net for the Spartans. The redshirt sophomore finished with six saves and kept her team in the game.
Maryland redshirt junior goalie Rachel Egyed built off her strong performance against Penn State last week and continued to be brilliant in goal for the Terps with four saves on the night.
“Anytime you get a shutout in the Big Ten, that’s an impressive thing,” head coach Ray Leone said about the play of Egyed. “She’s as steady as they go.”
With both defenses playing well, 90 minutes was not enough for either team to pull ahead. However, even 110 minutes would not be enough time as the game ended 0-0 scoreless.
When looking at this game on paper, one halted the five-game losing streak.
“I see a resilience that’s growing in them,” Leone said about his team’s recent play “These last three games they’ve really performed against top level and were in it the whole way.”
A young roster missing their two leading scorers in Jackson and freshman Mikayla Dayes has continually learned how to work with each other on offense, while the defense has found its footing after a few blowout losses.
With the tie, both Michigan State and Maryland will most likely find themselves on the outside looking in when it comes to making it to the Big Ten Tournament.
However, in their final game of the season against Purdue, the Terps will have a chance to finish what has already been an improved season on a positive note. The game will take place in West Lafayette, Indiana at 7 p.m. on Wednesday.
- Maryland volleyball swept by Indiana in second game of weekend homestand - October 7, 2023
- No. 8 Maryland field hockey falls to No. 6 Rutgers in penalty shootout, 3-2 - September 28, 2023
- Maryland women’s soccer stymied by No. 6 Penn State, 4-0 - September 15, 2023
