By: Henry Quach

COLLEGE PARK, MD — The Terps fell short in their Big Ten opener losing, 5-0, to No. 5 Michigan State, Thursday night. 

It was a hectic beginning to the game as the Spartans didn’t take long to make their mark, striking the opening goal in the 2nd minute. 

The Terps defense continued their struggles later on in the 7th minute allowing the Spartans to take a two goal lead. Michigan State continued to trounce through the Maryland defense, securing a three goal lead in the 41st minute. 

It also didn’t help that Maryland’s discipline level started to fade. The Terps committed five fouls through the first half. Maryland’s best efforts to stop the momentum of the Spartans offense faltered. 

The Terps’ offense had no answer in the first half as they were completely shut out. Maryland ended the first half with no shots and corners accounted for. 

The Spartans’ attack had all of the first half momentum leading in shots and corners.

As the second half commenced, it was the same story as the first half. 

The Terrapins offense once again was shut down only having two shots — the only two shots for the Terps in the game. 

Nothing was going right on both sides of the ball for Maryland. The Spartans inflicted more damage towards the Terps’ defense scoring two more goals in the second half. One in the 60th minute and lastly in the 89th minute. 

Maryland’s defense was shut down throughout the game. The Spartans offense finished with more shots on goal then the Terps had shots. It was somewhat a clean game as both teams accounted for 17 fouls, but the Terps discipline showed an ugly stat line with ten fouls in the game.

Maryland head coach Meghan Ryan Nemzer gives praise for every game as an opportunity to grow and ready to see a bounce back performance against a new Big Ten opponent, Washington.

“Every opportunity is a way for us to grow,” said Nemzer “I’m excited to see our response for next week.” 

Despite the loss, Nemzer believed in competition after a bad first half showing, but set pieces were the main concern in the second half. 

“I thought that first half wasn’t our best showing,” said Nemzer, “But I thought we grouped at halftime and adjusted some things and thought we competed… but unfortunately we gave goals in set pieces.”  

The Terps look to bounce back at home when they host new conference opponent Washington on September 19.