In the 62nd minute, Maryland women’s soccer made a goalkeeper change, taking out Faith Luckey and subbing Meredith Fisher into the game. Luckey had made a season-high nine saves to keep the Terps in the game against an onslaught by Michigan’s attack.
Just two minutes after the change, Melisa Kekic fired a shot towards Fisher, who misplayed the shot as the ball deflected off her glove and into the back of the net.
However, with Luckey out of the game, the luck did not run out for Maryland. A 67th-minute
Paige Foye free kick was misplayed by Wolverines netminder Malia Zillman. The ball rolled slowly into the net to bring the score level, helping the Terps secure a 1-1 draw against Michigan.
The Terps’ offense struggled throughout the night and could not maintain pressure on the Wolverines’ backline. Maryland had just seven shots throughout the contest, with only two on frame.
Maryland’s first opportunity came in the ninth minute, with Jolie Farmer receiving a long pass into Michigan territory, but the ball was cleared out for a corner kick. The Terps couldn’t capitalize as the Wolverines blocked Mckinley Heaven’s shot.
While the Terps had just one shot in the first 20 minutes of play, Michigan’s offense also didn’t create major opportunities early, logging three off-target shots of its own over that span.
However, as the frame wore on, Michigan found its rhythm on attack.
The Wolverines’ first shot on goal came in the 22nd minute, but Ella Jablinsky fired it right to Luckey, who made the easy save.
Jablinsky was the primary producer in Michigan’s attack. She attempted four shots in the first half.
In the 27th minute, Brooklyn Marn was the first Wolverine to test Luckey on a shot, but the goalkeeper was up to the task and made the diving stop.
Michigan’s newfound attacking pressure continued, but Luckey was up to the challenge. She made consecutive saves on shots in the 29th minute to keep the Terps from falling behind early.
Luckey made six first-half saves, including multiple diving stops. The Wolverines attempted 11 shots in the first half, but couldn’t beat Luckey on any of them.
It took until the 42nd minute for Maryland to get its second shot of the game — an Ellie Egeland attempt that went high and wide of the goal — as the Terps went without a shot on frame in the first half.
Coming out of the half, it didn’t take long for Michigan to get another opportunity. In the 46th minute, Campbell Jewell had the ball fall right to her feet in open space, but her golden opportunity sailed over the crossbar.
Michigan had another chance in the 51st minute, and while Jablinsky finally beat Luckey, the ball hit off the post and back into the box. The ball fell to the foot of Marn, but by the time she got a shot off, Luckey got back into position to make a phenomenal save.
Maryland’s offense went right back down the field with an opportunity of its own, as Farmer created some room to operate in the Wolverines box, but Zillman made her first save of the game.
Farmer had another opportunity in the 62nd minute, receiving a perfect cross from Heaven into the box, but Farmer just missed with the header and sent it inches wide of the right post.
Given another chance after Lisa McIntyre was taken down just outside the box, Farmer misfired again and sent the ball wide right.
Maryland’s attack started to sputter after the gift from Zillman, and as Michigan pushed to reclaim the lead, the Terps were in survival mode. The Wolverines offense constantly barraged the Terps’ backline, finishing with 22 shots in the game — including some critical ones late in the match.
In the 85th minute, Michigan had a chance to pull back in front as Jablinsky made a great run into the box, but again she sent the ball over the crossbar despite having a clean look.
The Wolverines continued to attack, but after her initial mistake led to the lone goal Maryland allowed, Fisher made a great play to prevent a second. The sophomore came out of her goal to beat any forwards to the ball on a long pass into Maryland’s box.
Fisher made another save in the 89th minute, as the Terps’ defense staved off Michigan’s late attack.
Three things to know
1. Bent but didn’t break. After struggling against Iowa, the Terps’ defense bounced back to hold Michigan to just one goal. Despite allowing 22 shots, when Maryland needed to make a play, the defense stepped up to the challenge.
Both Luckey and Fisher made some huge plays to deny open chances for Michigan’s attackers, and despite Fisher allowing the goal, both goalkeepers had solid performances.
2. Unsustainable offense. Despite the Terps getting the goal they needed to even the score, the level of play is not sustainable with limited offensive output. Maryland had just seven shots and only two on goal and looked outmatched on that side of the ball for much of the game. Farmer had some opportunities, and the attention she required helped create the lone goal for the Terps, but overall attacking pressure will need to improve to close out the season strong.
3. Michigan State looms. Maryland continues its tour of Michigan and will take on No. 5 Michigan State on Sunday. The Spartans are one of the best teams in the country and are third in the Big Ten standings. Led by former Terp Kennedy Bell, Michigan State could be Maryland’s toughest test of the season.
