When Terrapins women’s soccer coach Brian Pensky talks about what he expects from games, he talks about wanting “results.”

A result against a top-tier team like North Carolina might be a tie. A result against an ACC bottom-feeder like Clemson is a win.

The Terps entered yesterday’s game at Miami looking for a result that would both distance them from the ACC’s lower tier and also try to keep them near the conference’s top programs as the league tournament approaches.

But after 90 minutes of play and a 30-minute lightning delay, the Terps found themselves with an unwanted end: a 2-1 loss to the Hurricanes.

“We certainly, worst-case scenario, wanted to walk out of here with a tie,” coach Brian Pensky said. “Honestly, I’m a little bit still in shock that we’re walking out of here with a loss. I’m very disappointed.”

Despite Miami’s position in the ACC as a lower-tier team, Pensky knew the No. 16 Terps’ (9-3-4, 3-3-2 ACC) trip to Coral Gables, Fla., would be no easy task, especially following Thursday night’s win at No. 17 Florida State.

“You always rebound back on Sunday against Miami, which is one of the most competitive teams in the country to play against,” Pensky said Thursday. “You’re always dealing with 90-degree weather on that Sunday 1 o’clock game.”

After the Florida State game, Pensky said he was worried about his backline, which had all four starters play 90 minutes during a game in which many key Terps saw limited action.

But Pensky felt the Terps tired more in the midfield than the backline, and the Terps’ play was fatiguing Miami (9-5-1, 3-4-1) early on.

The Terps saw themselves lose an early lead for the second time in ACC play as well. Midfielder Olivia Wagner scored on a free kick in the 16th minute, giving the Terps the game’s first goal for the fourth time in the past six games.

But the Terps couldn’t hold on, as Miami forward Kate Howarth scored goals in the 37th and 61st minutes to lead the Hurricanes’ comeback, and the Terps were stifled in the latter part of the game.

“In those last 30 minutes, we struggled to find the same effectiveness and possession and defensive quality we had the first half,” Pensky said. “They obviously got some confidence out of the goals and their lead.”

While the Terps were an exercise in efficiency Thursday night against the Seminoles, scoring three goals on three shots while Florida State struggled, the tables were turned yesterday.

The Terps outshot the Hurricanes, 19-8, and put eight of their shots on goal. Miami, however, put only two shots on goal and converted both of them against goalkeeper Yewande Balogun — the plays that proved the difference in the game.

“Certainly, we were on the other end of that on Thursday night and that’s life and that’s soccer,” Pensky said. “Sometimes it’s great to you, and other times it’s not so great to you.”

dgallen@umdbk.com