By: Joe Catapano

The Maryland Women’s Soccer Team conceded three first-half goals for the second consecutive game Sunday night against George Mason at Ludwig field.

The two teams played equal through the first twenty minutes until the Patriots came alive with three goals in a seven-minute span. The Terps, unable to complete a comeback, would eventually fall, 5-2, for a fourth straight loss.

“Obviously we [have to] improve on our overall defending,” coach Ray Leone said after the game. “Because you can’t let up three goals a game and expect to win.”

Alex Myers’ volley from just inside the box beat Terrapin starting goalkeeper Katelyn Jensen in the 21st minute for her second goal of the season. Two headers followed just minutes later for the Patriots, scored by Erin Mitchell and Sarah Hardison.

Similar to the 5-3 loss to Navy this past Wednesday, the Terrapins struggled to generate quality scoring opportunities in the first half. Maryland recorded only three shots in the first half, with only one being on target.

The Terrapins have managed to fight back in the second half on multiple occasions this season and tonight was no exception. Jarena Harmon scored a team-leading sixth goal of the season in the 72nd minute on a cross from Chelsea Jackson. Minutes later, Jackson tapped in a goal of her own to cut the Patriot lead to 3-2.

“To Maryland’s credit they came out and played a fantastic second half,” George Mason coach Todd Bramble said. “When they made it 3-2 that’s a time where we could’ve really, really tensed up and given up a third goal.”

Instead, the Patriots answered the Terrapin’s comeback with two final goals in the last ten minutes. Both Hardison and Myers scored their second goals of the night to clinch the Patriot’s first road victory of the season.

The loss tonight for the Terrapins concludes the nonconference schedule, and although their record falls to 2-5-1, the team has learned a lot about themselves over the course of the past eight games.

“We’ve definitely gotten a lot more tough,” Harmon said. “We’re learning how to fight as a team instead of individually.”

Despite Maryland finishing last in the Big Ten last year, the Terrapins remain optimistic after concluding this year’s nonconference schedule.

“It’s a clean slate right now,” said Leone.

The Terrapins travel to Piscataway this Friday night to take on Rutgers at 7 p.m. in its Big Ten opener. Rutgers defeated Maryland, 1-0, last season in College Park.