Maryland Women’s Soccer Faces Appalachian State in Home Opener

The Maryland women’s soccer team will open up its 2018 home schedule Friday when the Terps (1-1) host Appalachian State (1-1) at 7:00 pm at Ludwig Field. The Terps will look to rebound after dropping their final game of the JMU Invitational to host James Madison on August 19, while the Mountaineers are coming off a 3-0 victory over Campbell on Aug. 19.


Protect This House
Maryland has won nine out of its last 10 home openers dating back to its 2008 season.

The Terps knocked off Drexel 2-1 in its season opener last season on August 18, getting goals from Mikayla Dayes and Hope Lewandoski.

Harmon Powers Terps to Season-Opening Win
Senior Jarena Harmon scored two goals, including the game winner in the 87th minute, to push Maryland (1-0) to a 2-1 victory over William & Mary (0-1) in their season opener on August 16.

It was the second straight season-opening win for the Terps, who extended their non-conference unbeaten streak to eight games with the win. That streak came to an end on August 19 when Maryland fell for the first time in non-con play since September 11, 2016.

Harmon surpassed her goals total from last season one game into her 2018 campaign, scoring on both of her attempts on the day.

First Years Factoring In
Head coach Ray Leone has wasted no time introducing his freshmen class into the lineup, with four true freshmen and five total freshmen seeing the field for the Terps their opening weekend at the JMU Invitational.

Freshmen Loren Sefcik, Emily McNesby, Adalee Broadbent and Madison Oracion all saw the field for the Terps in their first two games, with Sefcik, Broadbent and Oracion all earning starts. Sefick and Broadbent started both games for UMD, with Broadbent being one of two Terps to play all 180 minutes open the season.

Additionally, redshirt freshman Alyssa Poarch made her collegiate debut after missing the entire 2017 campaign due to injury. The Middletown, Del. native registered her first career assist in the team’s season-opener vs. William & Mary, after Jarena Harmon scored the game-winner off her shot in the 87th minute.

2018 Outlook

Third-year head coach Leone and the Terps will look to further improve upon its progress over the past two seasons, as Maryland jumped to a four-win improvement last year with a 7-8-3 overall record.

“We have had a great energy and togetherness this preseason,” said Leone. “You can really feel that throughout the entire time we’ve been together. This is a very coachable group and they really want to get better. I want our group to demonstrate a consistent work ethic and fight to the last second of every single game. I’m asking our entire team to bring it, and I think this year we have that kind of competitive spirit.”

Three Terps Garner B1G Preseason Honors

Three members of the Maryland women’s soccer team were named to the 2018 Big Ten Preseason Honors List in a release made by the conference offices this week. Senior goalie Rachel Egyed, junior goalie Jlon Flippens and senior forward Jarena Haron were all selected as preseason All-Big Ten honorees.

Egyed earned Third-Team All-Big Ten honors for the Terps as a junior, notching 71 saves while holding a goals against average of 1.36. She started in 17 of 18 games for the Terps in the cage, notching five shutouts while helping the Terps to a four-win improvement. The Clifton, N.J. native starred in Big Ten play, saving penalty kicks against Nebraska and Purdue while making numerous one-on-one stops during conference matches.

Flippens scored two goals and notched three assists as a central defender and midfielder for the Terps in 2017. She started in 13 of 14 games played while converting two penalty kicks โ€“ including a game winner against George Mason. Flippens started all 19 games as a freshman in 2016 notching a team-high four assists that season.

Harmon played in 16 games last season for the Terps while starting six, notching a goal and an assist. As a sophomore, Harmon posted eight golas โ€“ best for second on the team โ€“ and 17 total points.

New Crop of Terps

Head coach Ray Leone added six freshmen to the program this season, featuring players from five different states: Maryland, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Ohio and Texas.

“This is a fantastic class that provides much needed athleticism and versatility in a variety of positions,” Leone said. “We expect these players to play a significant role in the growth of our program. All of these players have demonstrated outstanding dedication in the classroom as well as on the soccer field and we cannot wait for them all to arrive in College Park to get started.”

Maryland’s pair of Pennsylvania natives, Emily McNesby and Adalee Broadbent, have played together since they were 12 years old.

Non-Conference Success

Maryland romped through its nonconference schedule in 2017 with an undefeated 6-0-1 record.

Included in that unbeaten streak was a 1-0 victory for Maryland over William & Mary on September 7 at Ludwig Field.

Maryland outscored its opponents 12-4 during that run and racked up 99 shots. It was the Terps’ first unbeaten nonconference slate since 2011.

Maryland has suffered just one loss in its last nine nonconference contests.

via Maryland Faces Appalachian State in Home Opener – University of Maryland Athletics



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