After scoring nine times across three matches to open the season, Maryland women’s soccer recorded just one shot in a shutout loss to Old Dominion on Sunday. The Terps — who were blanked in seven-consecutive matches last season — had their first chance to rebound on Thursday.
Back at home, Maryland delivered.
The Terps notched double the shots of the Midshipmen, and they’ve conceded only three goals through five matches. Maryland defeated Navy, 2-1, at Ludwig Field, moving it to 4-0 at home — after it won four matches all of last season.
“I love this place. I’m biased about it, and there’s no doubt we love playing at home here,” coach Michael Marchiano said. “I want more out of some of the performances that we’ve had at home, and that’s where our focus needs to be.”
Midfielder Ellie Egeland opened the scoring when she tracked an errant pass in the box in the 35th minute. It marked the sophomore’s second goal this season.
Forward Gemma Davitian also added her second goal of the campaign. The redshirt freshman’s score came in the 64th minute off an unlucky bounce from Navy goalkeeper Natasha Stramrood’s hands, right to Davitian’s feet.
Marchiano emphasized the importance of the team’s ability to be consistent after losses. The chemistry between the Terps (4-1) has already shone through in their ability to find each other on the field, rotating the ball consistently through all matches this season.
[Maryland women’s soccer’s winning streak snapped in 2-0 loss to Old Dominion]
On Thursday, it was Maryland’s defense that dictated play, conceding six shots, but only three shots on goal. When Navy (4-2) pushed quickly on offense, the Terps’ defense won battles for the ball and completed passes to slow down the tempo.
Goalkeeper Faith Luckey has been a pivotal player on the pitch this season for the Terps, including a career-high seven saves against Old Dominion. Luckey saw zero shots on goal in the first half against the Midshipmen, though, allowing Maryland to build its lead.
Navy came into the match anticipating the agility and speed of the Terps, especially focusing stopping forward Kelsey Smith. While Smith finished with only two shots, Egeland and Davitian compensated with a score in each half.
[Maryland gymnastics coach Brett Nelligan signs contract extension through June 2030]
The Midshipmen finally broke through in the 83rd minute. Forward Marlee Heaven drilled a penalty kick, which seemed to shake Maryland and allowed Navy to take advantage of the final five minutes.
“I think that what we saw tonight was a little bit of a lack of control, because we did not secure the ball and extend sequences in the opponent’s half as the game counted down toward the end,” Marchiano said.
The Terps’ early goal kept them in confidence for the majority of the game, after their loss to Old Dominion, in which the team’s 287-minute streak of holding opponents scoreless ended.
The main issue the Terps endured against Old Dominion was a lack of energy, both “individually and collectively,” according to Marchiano. True to the coach’s talk of the team bouncing back, Maryland entered Thursday’s match full of spirit.
“Tonight, we wanted to make sure that there were 11 players who were alive on the field at all times, in possession and out of possession,” Marchiano said.
The Midshipmen’s Helen Bonner also received a yellow card early in the second half — indicative of the passion the two teams brought to the pitch. Maryland also defeated Navy, 1-0, last season.
And the Terps ended victorious again in the rematch, moving to 4-0 at home in the team’s best start at Ludwig Field since 2017.
“The lights flickering for goals and wins here … that’s a really special thing, and we hope to repeat that many, many times here this season,” Marchiano said.
