The Terrapin women’s soccer team had enjoyed sheer dominance against Loyola, having won the previous nine meetings between the teams, but due to an anemic offense, and an unfortunate deflected own-goal last night at Ludwig Field, the Terps suffered a loss to tarnish their previously perfect series record.

With just over 10 minutes remaining in regulation, Loyola forward Christina Gomez went unevaded into the box, and pelted a strong left-footed kick that rocketed off Terp defender Aimee Bresani and found the back of the net for the night’s lone goal.

With their best chances of the night already behind them, the Terps couldn’t respond to the Greyhound goal and were handed their third loss of the season.

The Terps had opportunities to score early in the game, with senior Sarah Sample and junior Kelly Rozumalski putting repeated pressure on Loyola goalkeeper Brittany Henderson, but a goal still eluded the Terps.

“It wasn’t frustrating because we felt like we had the whole rest of the game to score, but obviously we didn’t capitalize like we needed to,” Sample said. “We became way too predictable. We played into them way too much. Everything was off the quick cross. We didn’t use our midfielders well.”

With under a minute left in the first half, the control of the game seemed to shift in the Greyhounds’ favor.

The Terps were fortunate to escape two dangerous Loyola corner kicks, but the near-goals gave Loyola just the confidence they needed heading into the second half, where they outshot the Terps 16-8.

“I think it was us getting anxious,” Rozumalski said. “I think we realized we got lucky.”

Terp goalkeeper Nikki Resnick once again had a strong showing, in what looked like her fourth shutout of the year before the unfortunate deflection skidded past her.

Resnick faced a barrage of open shots from the Loyola offense in the second half and had six saves to keep the game scoreless.

“The whole team needs to get better defensively so Nikki doesn’t have to carry so much of the load,” coach Brian Pensky said.

The Terps have now scored in just two of their first six games of the season. And despite only allowing five goals, they are just 2-3-1 on the season.

“We’re obviously not giving up a ton of goals – we just aren’t scoring any,” Pensky said. “The game is about scoring goals, and against good teams, you only get so many opportunities, and you can’t take them for granted.”

Contact reporter Mark Selig at mseligdbk@gmail.com.