Soccer Falls to Maryland 1-0
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The University of Miami women’s soccer team came out on the wrong end of a 1-0 result Thursday night, dropping its conference matchup with Maryland at Cobb Stadium.
Despite entering the locker room to a scoreless draw for the second consecutive match, the Hurricanes (8-6-0, 3-6-0 ACC) were unable to capitalize on their momentum in the opening minutes of the second period. A 56th-minute strike from Ashley Spivey proved the game-winner for the Terrapins, who improved to 8-7-0 overall and 4-5-0 in ACC play.
Miami saw some early impressive spells of offense, including a ninth-minute counter attack started on a square pass from junior midfielder Erin McGovern. Junior Ashley Flinn made a streaking run up field after receiving a leading pass, earning Miami’s first corner kick of the night.
The Terrapins built up their first real threat of the match in the 18th minute, making a run on the near side of goalie Emily Lillard’s penalty box. A stout showing from freshman Gracie Lachowecki, who turned in yet another 90-minute performance for the Miami backline, helped defuse the threat.
Neither team was able to register a shot on goal before halftime, despite some impressive combinations from freshman Emily Auld and Lachowecki with less than two minutes to go in the first period. Auld streaked up field but was unable to complete her cross, sending both teams into a scoreless draw at halftime.
The Terrapins wasted little time in taking the lead, scoring just seven minutes after the start of the second half. A nice cross from Megan Gibbons was converted by Spivey, who tapped it into the far corner and just past Lillard to make it 1-0 in favor of the visitors.
Miami nearly tied up the match in the closing minutes, but Tara Schwitter’s efforts came up empty. The senior midfielder connected on a dangerous free kick towards the box, and her shot from 18 yards out was saved calmly by Rachelle Beanlands to preserve the victory in the closing minute.
The Hurricanes will return to Cobb Stadium for a matchup with Boston College Sunday, Oct. 20. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.
