CLARIFICATION: This story has been updated to better reflect Liz Beardsley’s performance in early-season games.
Liz Beardsley gathered herself and the ball behind her on Sunday after she watched the netting of the cage swish. Retaliation came quickly against Beardsley, a constant for Maryland women’s soccer early in the season as it struggled to hold leads.
As the last line of defense, Beardsley’s position on the field is crucial — even more so on a team struggling to finish at the net. While she’s endured blows, the senior captain has been vital for the Terps through their first four matches, leading the Big Ten in saves to help offset an inconsistent offense.
“Liz is a pro for me,” coach Meghan Ryan Nemzer said. “I give her a lot of credit because she doesn’t rely on others to become better.”
Maryland’s 1-1-2 record shows the work Beardsley has done in the cage. As one of the veterans on a young team, Beardsley has taken leadership over the backline alongside co-captain and defender Katie Coyle.
Beardsley ranked in the top 30 in saves nationally after her first two games this season. Her vocal and physical cues have kept the Terps’ defense strong, even as they’ve gone winless since their season opener.
That was evident against James Madison. Beardsley emerged from her cage, pointing her finger to direct Maryland’s defenders at an oncoming James Madison attacker. Her defense scrambled ahead to follow the directions Beardsley assigned to them.
[Maryland women’s soccer takes late lead but can’t hold on, draws 1-1 with James Madison]
Beardsley’s deep visuals of the field cued the defenders in and slowed the ball. The goalkeeper’s experience and time spent training with a professional team in the National Women’s Soccer League has given her the IQ and confidence to lead the field.
Maryland’s early season offense has received scoring opportunities each time, but hasn’t been able to consistently capitalize. The Terps allowed shots in the defensive third, but Beardsley repeatedly made athletic saves. She’s been one of the new consistents.
Maryland’s first loss this season against American, a 2-0 defeat, featured goals just four minutes apart. Beardsley otherwise showed strength to protect the cage.
“Obviously after the first goal we kind of put our heads down, and I think that’s why the second goal was able to come so quickly,” Beardsley said. “But I also think that’s the moment I’ve been called on, I’ve been able to be successful in preventing that. I just wasn’t able to Thursday night, so I was a little frustrated.”
The Terps’ response was similar on Sunday against James Madison. After earning the go-ahead goal in the 82nd minute, Maryland allowed the Dukes’ tying score just six minutes later.
[Maryland women’s soccer loses to American, 2-0, picks up first loss of season]
Beardsley didn’t have many chances throughout the contest with just two shots against her, and while she worked well with her backline, she couldn’t ultimately get a needed save.
This is not the first season Beardsley has been essential for Maryland. She secured six shutouts, the Terps’ best year from a goalkeeper since 2014, and made 67 saves in 2023. With one shutout against Lehigh secured this season, Nemzer believes Beardsley is on her way to topping that mark.
Beardsley said she focuses on how she can help her team best as she plays. Her defensive line is the first line that keeps shots away from her so she does not need to worry about them, she said.
“Whenever the game calls upon me, I just want to be able to get back to them, because they work so hard for 90 minutes and there’s only a few moments I’m called upon in the game,” Beardsley said.
