This weekend the Maryland Terrapins women’s soccer team will have a chance to both tie and surpass their win total from the entire 2016 season. After a rough 2016 campaign that ended with a 3-15-1 record, the Terps find themselves sitting at 2-0 in 2017 thanks to some strong defensive play and timely scoring on offense.
In their wins over Drexel and Navy, Maryland only allowed one goal on a combined 18 shots. Junior goalie Rachel Egyed had a stellar performance in their 3-0 win over Navy as she turned away all four of Navy’s shots on goal.
Offensively, the Terps already have five different players with a goal. They have also shown that they are a threat to score at any time as senior Chelsea Jackson and sophomore Jlon Flippens both found the net within 77 seconds of each other during the win over Navy. With both the offense and defense playing well, Maryland has a good chance to match their 2016 win total.
Their first chance to do so will come against Gardner-Webb on Friday night in North Carolina. Coming off a nine win season a year ago, the Runnin’ Bulldogs currently sit at 0-2 and they have failed to record a goal so far in regular season play. On paper, it looks live a favorable matchup for the Terps as Gardner-Webb is only averaging two shots-on-goal per game while allowing opposing offenses about 6.5 chances per game. If the Runnin’ Bulldogs are going to challenge Egyed and the rest of the Maryland defense, junior forward Samuelle Grove will have to try and jumpstart her offense. Grove led GW with six goals during the 2016 season.
With a win on Friday, the Terps could enter Sunday’s contest against Furman with a chance to surpass last season’s win total. The Paladins are currently 2-1 with blowout wins over USC Upstate (6-1) and North Greenville (6-0). Furman’s lone loss came Thursday night at the hands of Presbyterian 2-0. Their high-powered offense is led by sophomore forwards Amanda Baker and Treva Aycock who have four and three goals respectively.
The Paladins could be a tough matchup for the Maryland defense, as they are averaging 29 shots per game. The Maryland offense will have to look towards Chelsea Jackson, who led the team in scoring a year ago, and other goal scorers to keep pace with Furman.
It will be an exciting weekend for the Terps in the Carolinas as they look to continue their hot start and make their 2016 record an afterthought.
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- Maryland women’s soccer stymied by No. 6 Penn State, 4-0 - September 15, 2023
