By: Conner Hoyt
Maryland played host to Iowa on Friday afternoon in its last game at Ludwig Field this season, and for the Terps, it was more of the same.
The club has now failed to score in five consecutive games, after recording just two shots on goal. The scoreless streak dates back to their Oct. 6 matchup with Ohio State.
“It’s just weighing on the team, to be honest,” said coach Ray Leone. “They’re probably trying too hard. The shots aren’t on frame, the services aren’t good enough—I’ve never seen anything like it. It’s not fun.”
After a short, but treacherous rain in the early afternoon, the conference foes had to adjust to slick field conditions. Fortunately for Iowa, they did. The Hawkeyes dominated possession in the first half. Bri Toelle drew first blood for Iowa, netting her 6th goal of the season in the 25th minute.
Darby Moore took a tumble in the 20th minute, apparently hampered by her Achilles, which she grabbed as she writhed on the ground. Moore remained in the game, though appeared slightly less quick in the minutes following the sequence.
“I had gotten tripped and I rolled my ankle, and I just kept playing through it,” said Moore. “It was no big deal”.
In the 75th minute, Rachel Egyed recorded a diving save that elicited a reaction from the crowd. The momentary burst of energy was short-lived though as the Terrapins could not draw any sort of momentum in the closing minutes of the game. Iowa sealed the win with a Karly Stuenkel goal in the 84th minute.
“I feel for these girls… nobody wants this,” said Leone.
Though the Terps will lose goalkeeper Stephanie Senn to graduation next season, Egyed said that this team does not have a problem making adjustments.
“We’ve been through so much adversity, it’s just another bump in the road,” Egyed said.
Despite seeing his team get shut out again, Leone drew positives from the game, praising his young talent.
“I think Niven [Hegeman] did a really good job in the second half,” said the coach. “I thought [Jlon Flippens] played a really good game… I mean, every time the ball came to her, something good was happening, it just didn’t come to her enough in the first half.”
Maryland will face Minnesota on the road Wednesday in its final game of the season. The Golden Gophers are 6-1-2 in the Big Ten, sitting at third in the conference. Meanwhile, the Terrapins have not won a game since Sept. 22. and have a record of 1-9-0 in the conference.
