Cavaliers Fall at No. 5 Maryland 3-2
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COLLEGE PARK, Md. – The No. 6 Virginia women’s soccer team suffered its first conference loss of the season, 3-2, at No. 5 Maryland in the midst of tropical storm Nicole at Ludwig Field. The teams traded goals all night through the driving rain as the Terrapins remained unbeaten on the season (9-0-1, 1-0-1 ACC) and dropping the Cavaliers to 7-2-1 (1-1-0 ACC).
“I first want to thank the Maryland facilities crew for getting the field ready under some really tough circumstances,” said Virginia head coach Steve Swanson. “I thought Maryland finished their chances well and it was the hard fought game that we expected. I am proud that our team came back twice to tie it, but it was just unfortunate that we ran out of time at the end.”
The Terrapins jumped out to the early lead in the third minute as Lydia Hastings one-timed a cross from Jasmyne Spencer to make the score 1-0. It was the first goal allowed by Virginia in the first half this season. The Cavaliers had three good chances later in the half. Colleen Flanagan’s (Downingtown, Pa.) header went off the post in the fifth minute and Maryland keeper Yewande Balogun saved breakaway chances by Erica Hollenberg (Fairfax Station, Va.) in the 29th minute and by Gloria Douglas (Fayetteville, N.C.) in the 45th minute. Virginia outshot Maryland 7-4 before the break, but still trailed at the half for the first time this season.
Virginia drew even in the 50th minute as Caroline Miller (Rockville, Md.) knocked in a loose ball in the box after a deflection by Meghan Lenczyk (McLean, Va.). Two minutes later, the Terrapins retook the lead as Sade Ayinde scored on a penalty kick. The Cavaliers answered with a penalty kick of their own in the 66th minute, after a handball in the box, as Lenczyk notched her eighth goal of the season. In the 74th minute, Maryland once again took the lead as Danielle Hubka scored off a corner kick from Olivia Wagner. The Cavaliers had several late chances to get the equalizer. In the 84th minute, Flanagan’s blast from 35-yards out was saved by Balogun off the crossbar. Balogun then saved a point-blank header from Lenczyk in the 87th minute and the Cavaliers couldn’t pounce on the loose rebound in the box. In the 89th minute, Douglas had a chance to track down the loose ball in the box, but was knocked down by a defender before she could send a cross back across the goalmouth.
“I thought we did well in some difficult conditions,” said Swanson. “But in the end, we gave up three goals, and that is a little uncharacteristic of us. Give Maryland credit that they finished their chances and we didn’t.”
Overall, Virginia outshot Maryland 17-9 and had a 5-3 corner kick advantage. Chantel Jones (Midlothian, Va.) made two saves for the Cavaliers, while Balogun made five at the other end for Maryland.
The Cavaliers return home on Sunday as they host top-ranked Boston College. Game time at Klöckner Stadium is set for 2 p.m.
No. 5 Maryland 3, No. 6 Virginia 2
#6 Virginia (7-1-1, 1-0-0) 0 2 – 2
#5 Maryland (8-0-1, 0-0-1) 1 2 – 3
Scoring Summary:
Md. Lydia Hastings 3 (Jasmyne Spencer 4) 3′
UVa. Caroline Miller 4 (Meghan Lenczyk 4) 50′
Md. Sade Ayinde 6 (penalty kick) 52′
UVa. Meghan Lenczyk 8 (penalty kick) 66′
Md. Danielle Hubka 3 (Olivia Wagner 4) 74′
Shots: UVa 17, Md 9
Corners: UVa 5, Md 3
Saves: UVa 2 (Jones 2), Md 5 (Balogun 5)
Fouls: UVa 16, Md 11
Offsides: UVa 0, Md 0
Attendance: 517