With 52 seconds remaining in overtime of a 0-0 game between the Maryland Terrapins women’s soccer team and Richmond, it seemed as if the Terps were destined for their second straight draw.
That was until Chelsea Jackson touched the ball.
Jackson, a senior forward who led Maryland in scoring a year ago, put the game winner in the back of the net in the 110th minute to give the Terps their fourth win of the season.
“It’s all or nothing,” Jackson said about the scoring opportunity. “We fought till the last minute.”
The win now gives Maryland more victories this season than they head during their entire 2016 campaign.
Even with such an exciting win, the Terps did not escaped unscathed. Freshman standout Mikayla Dayes was forced to leave the game in the 59th minute with a knee injury.
Following a skirmish for the ball, Dayes fell to the ground and was unable to get up as she grabbed her knee in pain.
“I think it’s just a bruise,” head coach Ray Leone said regarding on the injury.
She was carted off the field and never returned to action, forcing Maryland to use their depth in the absence of one of their top scoring threats.
“She’s a natural player,” Leone said about Dayes. “Very interesting and unique the way she moves on the field.”
Whether it was the absence of their star scorer or Richmond’s strong defense, the Terps had no luck on offense during regulation. Maryland put seven shots on goal with multiple attempts coming within inches of being a goal, but Richmond keeper Olivia Sjodin, who was making her first start of the season, had a spectacular night in the net coming up with multiple clutch saves.
“It was tough,” Jackson said about the missed chances. “But I mean, one has to fall…we pushed that number aside and focused on getting one.”
Luckily for Maryland, Richmond also struggled to put the ball in the net. The spiders had seven shots on goal, but Maryland junior keeper Rachel Egyed continued her strong 2017 campaign by recording five saves. Richmond’s best offensive weapon, senior forward Lexi Prillaman, finished without a goal as she is still scoreless on the season.
With no scoring in regulation, the Terps may have thought the game was just an instance of deja vu as it became their third straight matchup to head to overtime. Much like their game against Gardner-Webb, Maryland came away with the winning goal.
With the win, Maryland now holds an 4-0-1 record while Richmond sits at 0-3 on the season.
Maryland will look to remain unbeaten as they travel south to George Mason at 7 p.m. Sunday night.
- 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
