Maryland women’s soccer at Purdue preview

After going a month with no optimistic outcome, Maryland girls’s soccer lastly snapped a seven-game shedding streak Thursday night time with a 1-0 win at Indiana.

The Terps and Hoosiers, who sat on the backside of the Large Ten desk, battled to over 80 minutes of scoreless play earlier than senior attacker Alina Stahl put the Terps up with an Eighty fifth-minute strike.

Whereas the sport was sluggish and evenly paced for a lot of the opening half, Maryland slowly put the stress on to get a deserved three factors.

Regardless of the win being irrelevant for the Terps within the standings with only one sport left within the season, it was a key victory to spice up morale and key in on head coach Meg Nemzer’s “1% higher daily” philosophy.

Now, Maryland appears to be like to finish the season on a excessive be aware with a win in opposition to a struggling Purdue workforce on Sunday afternoon.

The final sport of the Terps’ 2022 marketing campaign is ready for kickoff at 2 p.m and might be streamed on Large Ten Plus.

Purdue Boilermakers (3-10-3, 0-6-3 Large Ten)

2021 document: 15-4-3 (8-2 Large Ten)

The Boilermakers’ season has been a whole turnaround within the worst of how.

Purdue has adopted up one in all its finest years in program historical past — ending second within the Large Ten and advancing to the second spherical of the NCAA Match — with a frankly stunning yr.

Regardless of returning 21 gamers and its prime 5 purpose scorers, Purdue’s yr has gone nearly straight downhill following an opening-day victory in opposition to then-No. 15 USC.

After that 3-0 upset, Purdue has notched simply two wins whereas racking up an 0-6-3 document within the convention, which leaves it at second-to-last within the Large Ten headed into the season finale.

After dropping its first three Large Ten video games, Purdue has improved barely, drawing in half of its final six video games, however internet hosting Maryland might be its final probability to seize a convention win after tallying eight final season.

Gamers to know

Sydney Duarte, graduate midfielder, No. 19 — A five-year starter, Duarte continues to be a gentle presence within the Boilermakers midfield. She’s outdone her factors whole from final season by which she guided her workforce to large success. Her two objectives ranks third on the workforce and her 4 assists rank second.

Gracie Dunaway, sophomore ahead, No. 2 — Following a breakout freshman yr by which her playmaking skill set program data, Dunaway has taken the following step this yr. Final season, her seven assists set the Purdue document for many helpers in a season by a freshman. This yr, she’s led the assault with a team-leading six objectives and 14 factors.

Emily Mathews, junior midfielder, No. 10 — If Purdue finds the again of the web, there’s a superb probability will probably be arrange by Mathews. Beginning in all 16 video games this season, she leads all gamers with six assists. Regardless of seeing a drop in goal-scoring from final season, she nonetheless gives hazard from a playmaking side.

Energy

Expertise. Purdue has over half of its starters, together with its top-five purpose scorers, return from a historic 2021 season. Regardless of the NCAA Match expertise, the Boilermakers simply haven’t been capable of repeat their magic from final yr. In the end, the returning items are nonetheless there, they usually possess the standard to attain in bunches.

Weak spot

Defensive inabilities. With its solely shutout coming manner again in August, Purdue hasn’t been capable of maintain the ball out of its web. Purdue’s 32 objectives allowed are the second most within the Large Ten behind solely Illinois, and it has have conceded at the very least two objectives in every of its previous 5 video games. A Maryland offense that has struggled all season ought to get some possibilities in opposition to a again line that has given up 27 pictures on purpose up to now three contests.

Three issues to observe

1. A brand new period sees its first chapter come to an in depth. When Nemzer took over, she spoke about her need to convey a championship tradition within the coming years to Maryland. Whereas yr one leaves rather a lot to be desired, strides had been made, with the Terps profitable their first convention sport in three years and almost exiting the nonconference slate undefeated. Towards a Purdue facet in poor type, the Terps have an actual alternative to finish the season on a win streak and end with three wins within the Large Ten.

2. A send-off to 3 “legends.” Nemzer was emotional final week when discussing the winding careers of the Dayes twins and Alyssa Poarch, mentioning the impression they’d on not solely Nemzer herself, however this system as an entire. She known as every of them a “Maryland legend.” Sunday will wrap up the six-year tenures of the graduate college students. Poarch has a purpose and help over her previous two video games whereas Malikae Dayes helped the Terps to a shutout in Thursday’s win at Indiana.

3. The house workforce has dominated this collection. These groups have met six occasions earlier than, with the Boilermakers holding a 4-2 benefit. Two of the three matchups in Faculty Park had been taken by the Terps, however the final three video games have been performed in West Lafayette, and Purdue has prevailed in every assembly. Can the Terps change the tide to finish the yr?