Maryland women’s soccer vs. George Mason preview

When this yr’s Maryland girls’s soccer group seems prefer it’s lastly going to present in, it finds a option to pull itself again into contests.

“We bend however we don’t break,” head coach Meg Ryan Nemzer stated following one more comeback effort Thursday evening.

For 83-and-a-half minutes of Thursday’s sport towards No. 17 Georgetown, the Terps have been examined to the restrict — seeing shot after shot require brilliance from senior goalkeeper Madeline Smith.

With Georgetown possessing a 1-0 lead, courtesy of a 58th-minute tally, Maryland seemed down on the mat within the waning minutes.

Miraculously, senior attacker Alina Stahl discovered her means into open area and received her head on a Mikayla Dayes cross to even the sport and ship the followers residence pleased.

Regardless of being outplayed for many of the sport, the Terps got here again from a purpose right down to safe a 1-1 draw for the fourth consecutive sport to start the season.

Sunday, the Terps could have possible their greatest probability on the first win of Nemzer’s tenure towards George Mason. Final yr’s matchup between the groups resulted in a 2-0 highway win for the Terps. Maryland holds an 18-6-1 all-time sequence benefit.

The sport will likely be streamed on Huge Ten Plus with kickoff set for 1 p.m at Ludwig Subject in Faculty Park.

George Mason Patriots (1-2-2)

2021 report: 6-11-1 (4-5-1 Atlantic 10)

The Patriots are led by second-year head coach Manya Puppione, who beforehand served as Maryland’s assistant coach from 2016-18. Puppione returns 9 gamers from final yr’s squad whereas seeing 22 new gamers; nineteen of these are freshmen with three transfers.

The Patriots started the season towards Virginia, the present No. 5 ranked group within the nation, and fell, 3-1. Two attracts towards Radford and Appalachian State, a dominant victory towards Howard, and a loss this previous Thursday towards Towson spherical up the Patriots’ season up to now.

Final yr’s matchup between the Terps and Patriots noticed Maryland put up a dominant show, with now-graduate ahead Alyssa Poarch potting a late insurance coverage purpose.

Gamers to know

Zoe Vidaurre, redshirt freshman defender, No. 23 — Vidaurre has stepped into the Patriots’ backline in her third yr of eligibility and has been their most constant presence. She has performed 90 minutes in all however one sport this season, even mixing within the assault with a purpose of her personal.

Milan Pierre-Jerome, junior midfielder, No. 16 — This title may sound acquainted to some Terps followers, as Pierre-Jerome is a switch from Maryland. Over two seasons with the Terps, she made 15 appearances however fell out of favor within the beginning lineup, making simply two begins final season. She has unsurprisingly discovered a extra constant lineup place with the Patriots, beginning in all 5 video games this season and main all midfielders in minutes.

Sarah DeWitt, graduate midfielder, No. 5 — The attacking midfielder is probably the most skilled participant on this group and likewise probably the most harmful up the pitch to this point this season. The St. Francis Brooklyn switch has began each sport this season whereas main the group in photographs and photographs on purpose. She is tied for the group lead in targets and factors with one and two, respectively.

Energy

Capitalizing on alternatives. Not like the Terps, who outdoors of Thursday’s conflict with Georgetown have seen a mess of probabilities finish to no avail, George Mason has been in a position to generate little however takes benefit when it has sights at purpose. The Patriots’ shot share is at 0.182, in comparison with Maryland’s 0.083. Whereas they’ve registered simply 33 photographs in 5 video games, their six targets on 17 photographs is considerably extra environment friendly than the Terps. If Maryland needs to safe its first victory, it might want to reduce any Patriot probabilities.

Weak spot

Historical past stands towards the Patriots. This sequence has seen 11 matchups over the previous 20 years, and the Terps have come out victorious in 10 of them. In seven of the video games, Maryland has blanked George Mason. The Patriots’ final victory got here in 2016 in Faculty Park whereas their present head coach, Puppione, was an assistant on Maryland’s employees. George Mason’s final successful season was in 2018.

Three issues to observe

1. Will Maryland’s streak of attracts come to an finish? Sunday afternoon will likely be an optimum probability for the Terps to get off the schneid and eventually into the win column. Whereas defeating the Patriots is not any stroll within the park, the Terps have performed them nicely up to now and line up favorably. Search for Nemzer to hunt out that elusive first win in entrance of the house followers.

2. Can different gamers chip in on the assault? By way of 4 video games, Maryland’s goal-scoring has been nearly completely pushed by Alina Stahl. Her two targets and two assists have contributed on all 4 targets scored this season, and for the Terps to take care of sustained success, it is going to require extra from the likes of Kam Fisher (one purpose), Mikayla Dayes (two assists) and Alyssa Poarch.

3. That is the second sport of a six-game residence stand. Sunday’s sport is the second of six straight residence contests for the Terps. After beginning the season with three away video games, the Terps have loads of time to get comfy at Ludwig Subject. Simply the longest streak of residence video games this season, it is going to take all of them the best way into Huge Ten play by means of Sept. 22.