Midfielder Ashley Spivey streaks down the sideline past a Boston College defender in the Terps’ 1-0 overtime loss on Oct. 27, 2013.
Terrapins women’s soccer midfielder Ashley Spivey is the team’s second-leading scorer, but after suffering a knee injury during practice last week, she is out for the season, marking the latest setback for an offense that scores 1.75 goals per game and has struggled to replicate last season’s explosiveness.
Though the Terps scored early against No. 1 Virginia on Sunday, they were unable to generate consistent offensive pressure throughout the match without Spivey, tallying just five shots in the 6-1 loss.
“We don’t have enough pieces to go into this game and play arguably the best team in ACC history,” coach Jonathan Morgan said. “We have kids that are banged up, and they are trying to play, but they are at 60 percent.”
Spivey’s injury came as she was developing into a consistent second attacking option, which Morgan had been searching for earlier in the season. Spivey tallied a goal or assist in three of her last four games.
“I feel terrible for her because she was beginning to perform at a high level,” Morgan said. “I feel terrible because her and [forward] Hayley [Brock] were starting to perform well together. And she was really giving us a good scoring threat.”
Forward Alex Doody started in Spivey’s place the last two games, partnering with Brock, a forward and former club teammate. Doody scored two goals Thursday in a 3-1 win over Pittsburgh, more than doubling her season total.
“I’m given the opportunity, and I’m more than excited to take it, even though I didn’t earn it over them,” Doody said Thursday. “When I hear [I’m starting], I get adrenaline. I get really excited, and I know I have to do my job.”
Against the Cavaliers, who are seventh in the ACC in goals against average, Doody was held to one shot. Morgan praised Doody after the loss, however, saying the redshirt sophomore put herself in positions to score. Morgan said he just wants her to shoot sometimes instead of taking an additional dribble.
Still, one player won’t be able to replace Spivey’s production. Defender Shade Pratt, who competes in sprint events for the Terps track and field team, adds another dimension to the attack with her speed. A starter for much of the season, Pratt has come off the bench primarily as a forward in five of the past six games, and the junior started the second half there Sunday alongside Brock.
“It’s always tough with Ashley out, but I think me and Alex work well together, and everyone that comes in does a really good job,” Brock said. “I think we’ve been able to compensate for Ashley being out.”
The Terps’ top six point leaders from last season have either graduated or missed games this season due to injury. Spivey is also the second attacking player to suffer a season-ending injury. Forward Gabby Galanti, who had scored one goal through the first five games, has been out since Sept. 8 with a torn ACL.
When Brock, the Terps’ leading scorer, sat out two games due to a concussion, Spivey picked up the offensive slack with two goals. Doody started both those games in Brock’s place and recorded two shots.
There have been rough stretches for the injury-plagued offense, such as the seven matches from Sept. 6 to Sept. 29 in which the Terps were shut out five times. Since then, though, the Terps have scored in eight of their past nine matches.
After Sunday’s loss, the Terps have to wait until Nov. 11 to see if they receive an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament. If the Terps get into postseason play, they will need to figure out how to score against quality opponents without one of their best attacking options.
But for a team that has dealt with injuries all season while playing the projected eighth-hardest schedule, challenges are nothing new.
“Playing this type of schedule while missing pieces is just difficult,” Morgan said. “I hope NCAA gives us a shot because I know we are better than what we showed [against Virginia].”
