By Henry Quach
Minneapolis, MN –– Following on from its first conference victory in nearly two years, Maryland women’s soccer traveled to Minnesota on Thursday evening. The Terps struggled to find an offensive rhythm as they fell to the Golden Gophers, 1-0.
Minnesota started Thursday’s contest on the front foot, forcing an early save from goalkeeper Liz Beardsley in the seventh minute. The Golden Gophers followed that effort up with two more shots in quick succession. Both were off target.
Maryland’s first chance of the game came by way of corner in the 14th minute. But the Terps couldn’t create a shot from the chance.
It was the closest Maryland came to scoring during a shotless first half. The early corner was the Terps’ only during that time as well.
Two yellow cards — one for senior defender Halle Johnson and another for Maryland’s bench — within a short span put the Terps in a precarious situation, as the half wound to a close.
Maryland nearly saw out the opening 45 minutes, but the Golden Gophers turned in the go-ahead score less than a minute before the break.
As the final minute approached in the first half, Minnesota sparked the move with a flurry of defense-splitting passes. Defensive midfielder Ally Childers ultimately got the final touch to give the home side a 1-0 advantage.
Childers’ score was the last of a dominant six-shot first half for the Golden Gophers.
Maryland attacked with slightly more cohesion following the break.
Redshirt sophomore forward Kelsey Smith created a shooting opportunity in the 52nd minute, but the effort was blocked by Minnesota defenders.
The Golden Gophers maintained their momentum thanks to the stop. They pushed forward again with a 56th minute shot, but once again, Beardsley was equal to it.
Maryland’s closest opportunity for an equalizer was in the 63rd minute. The ball was played to Kennedy Bell, whose low shot was saved by Minnesota goalkeeper Sarah Martin.
Bell’s shot on target was Maryland’s only of the game.
Minnesota turned its defensive stand into more attacking pressure.
The Golden Gophers created a host of scoring opportunities between the 68th and 76th minutes but Maryland’s defense held strong.
Beardsley also played a vital role, with a trio of saves during that passage of play.
Maryland made four substitutions as the final ten minutes approached, but they were to no avail. Minnesota held the Terps shotless down the stretch, as the home side held on to its slim advantage for the 1-0 victory.
The Terps will look to bounce back on Sunday. They continue their road trip against Wisconsin at 1 p.m.
