Through the first four games of the 2016 season, the Maryland Terrapins women’s soccer team had a promising 2-1-1 record. However, they then dropped 13 of their next 14 matches leading to a disappointing 3-15-1 record. Now, as they sit at 3-0-1 through four games in 2017 they are hoping Thursday’s game against Richmond will not be the start of another downfall.
On Thursday night, Maryland will welcome in Richmond to Ludwig Field with the goal of picking up their fourth win of the season, allowing them to surpass last season’s win total. For it to become a reality, the Terps will have to continue their timely scoring and lockdown defense.
The Maryland offense has been lead by a balance of youth and experience during their first four matches. Senior forward Chelsea Jackson, the Terps leading goal scorer from a year ago, has scored two goals while freshman forward Mikayla Dayes leads Maryland with three scores including two that came during the overtime win at Gardner-Webb. That performance was good enough to earn Dayes Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors. Her eight points (goals and assists) on the season has her sitting at second in the Big Ten.
An interesting trend to watch in Thursday’s matchup is when Maryland will strike for a goal. Besides an early goal in their draw with Furman, all of the Terps scores have come in the second half or later. If the offense can figure out a way to put a few in the back of the net early, the defense may be able to hold Richmond the rest of the way.
The aforementioned defense has been very stout to begin the season. Through four games, the Terps have only given up three goals while limiting every team to fewer than 20 shots per contest. Junior goalie Rachel Egyed has been impressive, recording 16 saves to go along with a save percentage of .842. She is coming off a game in which she recorded a season high seven saves.
Richmond will come into Thursday night’s game with an 0-2 record. This will be the Spiders second Big Ten opponent already this season, as they lost to Iowa 5-1 on August 20. For Richmond to pick up their first win, senior Lexi Prillaman will have to play like she has in years past. Although scoreless in 2017, Prillaman led the Spiders in goals, assists and points in 2016 and ranks seventh all time in goals and assists at Richmond. She was also voted to the Preseason All-Atlantic 10 team.
The game will take place at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Ludwig Field in College Park.
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