By: Joe Catapano
Maryland’s week of corner kick woes continued Sunday afternoon at Ludwig Field against Indiana. Marissa Borschke’s header in the 34th minute marked the fifth straight goal the Terrapins conceded off of a corner kick, dating back to last Sunday against Penn State.
The Terrapins entered the game in the middle of a 282-minute scoring drought. Despite the coaching staff making numerous changes to the offense, the scoreless streak continued as Maryland dropped its seventh consecutive game, 1-0. The Terrapins have now been shut out in four consecutive games.
“There’s only so much the defense can do and we had previously been a really high scoring team,” Maryland forward Madison Turner said. “I think we just have to get back to that a little bit.”
Maryland allowed three corner kick goals against Penn State last Sunday and one against Purdue on Thursday. Even though the Maryland defense has played well in the run-of-play, they continue to get beat the same exact way.
“On corner kicks it’s about your attitude,” defender Hope Gouterman said. “I think we just [need] that mentality that we’re going to get the ball out of there.”
Head coach Ray Leone said he’s dealt with his fair share of scoring droughts in his coaching year, but never an issue as specific as corner kicks for this length of time.
“It’s unreal,” Leone said. “I’ve never experienced anything like it.”
Maryland’s top two goal scorers, Chelsea Jackson and Jarena Harmon, did not start, but both entered the game in the 26th minute. The offense picked up upon their arrival but the team still couldn’t figure out how to beat the Hoosier defense.
In the 34th minute, Indiana defender Meghan Scott drove a corner kick to the back post where Borschke jumped above her defender and headed the ball down into the ground. As the ball bounced up, Maryland goalkeeper, Rachel Egyed, got her hands on the ball but pushed it straight up into the net.
“Set plays win and lose you games,” Indiana head coach Amy Berbary said. “Today they won us a game.”
Maryland created four corners and two shots in the second half, of which none found the back of the net. Jackson got her head on one corner, but missed the frame wide left. She got a shot off in the box later in the half but was also off goal.
The Terrapin defense has clicked recently with Gouterman leading by example and Egyed playing inspired between the sticks. But the offense continues to provide no goal support.
“You can’t keep everything out,” Leone said. “You can try but to me you have to go into every game trying to score two, expecting that a ball is going to bounce a weird way.”
Maryland (3-13-1, 1-8 Big Ten) looks to earn its first win since Sept. 22 this Friday at 4 p.m. against Iowa. The Terrapins went into Sunday tied with the Hawkeyes for last place in the Big Ten.
