By Brendan Miller and Gaeta Losso
Maryland women’s soccer has played four games against Big Ten opponents thus far in 2026. It hasn’t scored a single goal.
That statistic didn’t change against No. 14 Wisconsin on Thursday at Ludwig.
Despite strong defensive play, the Terps fell just short, losing 1-0.
Over the last four games, Maryland has shot 28 times on goal and failed to score a single one.
Maryland Midfielder Emily Egeland made her return to Ludwig Field for the first time in over a year after suffering a season-ending leg injury in 2025.
Wisconsin broke through Maryland’s defense and created a scoring opportunity early in the game. Forward Taylor Gordon capitalized, scoring the game’s only goal.
Gordon’s shot sailed high over Luckey into the back of the net, giving Wisconsin the game-winning goal.
Maryland’s defense was pressured early by the Badgers and held off a shot until the fourth minute, which missed wide right. Despite the early attack, goalkeeper Faith Luckey didn’t see real action until she made her first save in the 20th minute.
In the 23rd minute, the Badgers offense pressured the Terps’ defense and got 2 missed shots off.
Forward Jolie Farmer had an excellent steal in the tenth minute, leading to the Terps first shot of the game, with a high missed shot by forward Peyton Bernard after an offensive attack.
As the Terps continued to apply pressure, forward McKinley Heaven found space through Wisconsin’s offense and took a high shot that missed halfway through the fifteenth minute.
In the twenty-seventh minute, Faith Luckey recorded her first save of the game on a low shot from the center of the box. Two minutes later, the Terps’ defense held firm as Luckey made her second save, stopping a low right from Wisconsin forward Jane Rogers.
Wisconsin continued to find themselves near the goal, but Luckey withstood the pressure, marking her third save of the half when Badgers forward Taylor Gordon fired a shot in the 35th minute.
Defender Morgan Shannon used a sweet spin move to pierce the Badgers’ defense, then passed to forward Gemma Davitian, who crossed to midfielder Ellie Egeland for a high right-side shot attempt blocked by the Wisconsin goalie in the 41st minute.
Egeland’s shot comes in her first game back after almost a year away from the sport.
“I gave it everything I could tonight, and I know we didn’t get the result we wanted, but I’m really proud of my team, and it was an honor to finally be back on the field with them,” Egeland said. “On the field it feels like nothing has changed. It feels just like yesterday I was playing at Ludwig.”
Maryland ended the first half outshot 8-3; despite having a few chances, they struggled to stay on the attack against the Badgers’ defense. They switched out Faith Luckey for backup goalkeeper Meredith Fisher to start the half.
Maryland midfielder Ella Petry started off the second period strong, getting the first shot of the half with a low right miss.
Kamryn Cole had an excellent cross in front of the goal from the corner, but there wasn’t a teammate to finish with a shot on goal. Followed by a high miss from Lillian Bane.
Maryland’s defense prevented any shots on goal after the 55th minute and led in time on attack, but was unable to get through the Badgers’ defense to score. Maryland ended the game by outshooting Wisconsin in the second half, 3-4.
“It was just a bad start from us, and it is really disappointing, and I think some changes were made, and some positivity brought to the game, but in the end we can’t come play against a top 15 team and only play for 70 minutes,” head coach Michael Marchiano said.
Maryland Women’s soccer is still looking for their first win and goal of Big Ten play, marking their fourth straight defeat.
