he Maryland Terrapins women’s soccer team (7-5-2) has had a rough journey in Big Ten play. Through seven conference games, the Terps have a 1-5-1 record, and things are not going to get easier on Thursday night.
Maryland will welcome in No.12 Ohio State as the Terps try to get back on track after being shutout by a combined score of 7-0 in their last two games.
Turning things around will not be an easy task, as the Buckeyes will come into the game with an 11-2-1 record while sitting at 6-1-0 in the Big Ten. Ohio State has been streaking as of late, winning their past four contests while not allowing a single goal.
A struggling Maryland offense could not have been given a tougher matchup as Buckeye junior goalie Devon Kerr has been outstanding in 2017. Kerr has only allowed six goals in 14 matchups while recording eight shutouts.
Kerr and the OSU defense will have a chance to add to that shutout total on Thursday as the Terps have been shutout in their past two games and only scored one goal in their last 270 minutes of play. With leading goal scorers Chelsea Jackson and Mikayla Dayes out for the season with injuries, senior Madison Turner and company will need to find a way to get the offense back on track.
Defensively, the Terps will also look for a bounce-back performance. Since entering Big Ten play, Maryland has given up multiple goals six times including a season-high four goals to Iowa on Sunday.
Redshirt junior Rachel Egyed has struggled mightily and was even replaced by sophomore goalie Erin Seppi in the second half of Sunday’s contest.
Early goals have been the backbreaker for the Terps, as they have played from behind in six of their seven Big Ten plays.
In order to get back to their stingy ways, the defense will have to find a way to a balanced Ohio State offense that has 11 players who have scored a goal this season. The Buckeyes also have seven players who have scored two or more goals. The offensive attack is led by senior forward Sammy Edwards and her seven scores.
The game will take place at Ludwig Field in College Park at 7 p.m.
- 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
