Maryland women’s soccer torn apart by Ohio State

Photo Courtesy of Maryland Athletics

In the 59th minute, Ohio State star Emma Sears fired a shot toward keeper Madeline Smith that she saved.

However, Smith couldn’t secure the ball after the save, and it spilled out. 

Kailyn Dudukovich raced towards the ball and got a slight touch, just enough to knock the ball into the goal and secure her hat trick. 

This goal proved indicative of a night where not much went right for Maryland, who lost this affair 7-0. 

Ohio State attempted 25 shots, with 15 of them being on goal. 

Maryland finished with eight shots, a respectable number, but didn’t turn them into many threatening chances. 

Just 32 seconds into the game, Sears made her way down the right side and attempted what appeared to be a cross into the box. The ball went over the Maryland keeper’s head and found the back of the net to put Ohio State up 1-0. 

Soon after in the fifth minute, Sears struck again to claim her brace after a through ball found her wide open and in on goal. Her initial shot got turned away, but she calmly collected her rebound and scored on the second effort to put the Buckeyes up 2-0. 

One minute later, another through ball was played to Kayla Fischer, who scored a goal to make it 3-0 after warding off two Maryland defenders with some strength and skillful dribbling. 

Ohio State consistently beat Maryland on the counter with its speed and sliced through the Maryland defense for chances throughout the game. 

The absence of Malikae Dayes from suspension after picking up her fifth yellow card of the season the last match was definitely felt by the Terps’ defense tonight. 

In the 12th minute, Fischer again beat the Terps on the dribble and won a penalty in the box. Dudukovich scored a well-placed kick, giving the Buckeyes a 4-0 lead.

In the 22nd minute, Fischer won another penalty as Maryland looked helpless to stop Ohio State’s attack. Dudukovich once again buried the ball in the bottom right corner to turn the game into a 5-0 shellacking in the Buckeyes’ favor. 

The second part of the first half saw Maryland wake up and start playing for pride as they kept it scoreless and went into the half down 5-0. 

At halftime, Coach Meg Ryan Nemzer switched keepers from Emory Wegener to Smith, hoping for any spark.

The Terps came out fighting and playing with energy in the second half. They created more opportunities and pressed Ohio State more effectively. 

However, the Buckeyes grew into the second half and looked calm even while UMD was attacking and possessing the ball in the final third. 

In the 59 minute, Sears fired a shot at goal that Smith failed to corral. Dudukovich seized the chance to get her hat trick and increase Ohio State’s lead to 6-0. 

Less than a minute later, Kine Flotre scored a beautiful bending goal just outside a crowded box to further the margin to 7-0. 

The game ended 7-0 in a sixth straight loss for the Terps. 

One positive Maryland can take from this game is that their effort never faltered, and they continued to fight throughout the game despite the score. 

Smith had a solid game, with the exception of the third Dudukovich goal, once she was subbed on at halftime, and made a few saves to limit the Buckeyes’ goals in the second half. 

The Terps host Minnesota in their next match this Sunday at Ludwig Field, as they desperately look to break this long losing drought.