Maryland women’s soccer fell to Nebraska on Sunday, 2-0, as the heavy winds of the second half failed to inflate Maryland’s sails. The Terps conceded a season-high 29 shots as they fell in their final
chance to steal a victory on the road.
On Thursday, the weathered Maryland squad will face off against Michigan, which stands tied for 11th in the Big Ten standings. The Wolverines are coming off a hard-fought draw with Indiana and look to snap their own three-match winless streak under the bright lights in College Park.
The game will begin at 7 p.m. on Thursday at Ludwig Field and will stream on Big Ten Plus.
Michigan Wolverines (5-7-3, 2-3-3 Big Ten)
2024 Record: (3-13-2, 2-8-1 Big Ten)
Since winning the Big Ten Tournament in 2021, the Wolverines have steadily declined each year, only winning three matches across the 2024 season. However, Michigan has sprouted the beginnings of a successful rebuild under head coach Jennifer Klein.
Mixing in nine new players in 2025, Klein has built a respectable squad that will look to once again make some noise in the Big Ten Tournament in years to come. For now, though, the Wolverines are second in the Big Ten in goals allowed – first place belonging to Maryland – and have yet to score more than two goals against conference opponents.
Players to watch
Elle Ervin, sophomore forward, No. 11 — Leading the Wolverines with 12 points on the year, Ervin has quietly burst onto the scene as a huge presence in Michigan’s youthful locker room. Her .526 shots on goal percentage will be a huge danger for Luckey, as Ervin also leads her squad in total shots.
Adi Walick, sophomore midfielder, No. 6 — Walick has provided a much-needed spark in the midfield and has proved essential for Michigan. She has provided seven assists and is a perfect complement to the top-tier goalscoring efforts of Ervin despite not having notched a goal of her own.
Gabriella Prych, junior forward, No. 16 — Locking up Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week honors for her brace against the Detroit Mercy, Prych has been a standout for the Wolverines in the box with five goals this year. She has started 13 games on a talented frontline and looks to add to her totals against Maryland’s battered backline.
Strength
Frontline chemistry. Ervin and Prych have combined for 10 goals and are perfectly aided by midfield passes from Walick. In fact, four of Walick’s seven assists have been put away by the stellar attacking pair, suggesting a clear hierarchy of danger on counter-attacks.
Weakness
Shots. Similar to Maryland, Michigan suffers from huge inconsistencies in overall shotmaking and offensive output. The Wolverines stand third-to-last in the Big Ten in total shots (173) and shot differential (-3).
Three things to watch
1. Can good fortune transition to wins? Luckey has accumulated 28 saves over the last three matches, reaching her career high with 10 saves against Nebraska. However, when head coach Michael Marchiano was asked about her many saves, he said “poor defending” was the main culprit.
“She’s making a lot of the saves that she should make,” said Marchiano. “And we have to make sure we protect her moving forward.”
2. Will scoring return at Ludwig? In 2025, the Terps have only been able to score at home — none of their 17 goals have come on the road. With all road games out of the way, Maryland will need to rediscover its scoring touch to notch its first win in six games.
3. Is .500 a possibility? The last time the Terps sported a record of a .500 record was back in 2019 when they went 9-8-3. Although it’s a long shot with the team currently sitting at 6-9, the road to an even record starts with winning its first of three final home games, which comes against the Wolverines.
“Our ‘X-factor’ is that the group has to be connected,” said Marchiano. “Everyone’s got to give a consistent level of high performance to be competitive [in these final matches].”
