WOMEN'S SOCCER at Maryland
WHEN: Sunday, Sept. 11, 7:00 p.m.
WHERE: Ludwig Field
RECORDS: George Mason (4-3-0, 0-0-0 A-10); Maryland (2-4-1, 0-0-0 Big Ten)
SERIES RECORD: Maryland leads 15-5-1
LAST MEETING: The No. 15 Terrapins defeated the Patriots 3-0 on Aug. 30, 2013 in College Park, Md.
FAIRFAX, Va. – The George Mason women's soccer team will play its second road game of the season, facing Maryland at 7 p.m. on Sunday night at Ludwig Field in College Park, Md.
Mason (4-3-0) will look to rebound from a 4-1 loss to Georgetown the last time out on Thursday. Senior Sarah Hardison scored the lone goal for Mason and attempted three of the Patriots five shots in the game. Senior goalkeeper Kirsten Glad (4-3-0) made two saves.
“I was really pleased with the start against Georgetown and we feel like the goals that we conceded were errors defensively that are fixable,” Mason head coach Todd Bramble said. “Our performance was better against Georgetown and mentally and emotionally we are still in a good place with the quality of competition that we've been facing.”
After playing five straight games at home, the Patriots will be stepping on the pitch for just the second time on the road this season. In their lone road contest, Mason allowed two goals in the first half in a 2-0 loss at then-No. 4 Virginia on Aug. 21.
“It's just a different level of toughness that is required to be successful on the road,” Bramble said. “If we can check that box off before conference play that will be a good feeling. We feel good about our chances to go over to College Park and compete with a good Maryland team.”
Seven different players have scored a goal for Mason over the first seven games of the season. Sophomore Nia Elbeck, juniors Nicolette Herdegen, Abby Downey and Jenna Hamilton along with Hardison pace the Patriots with two goals apiece. Both of Downey's tallies this season have been game-winners. Sophomore Emily Littell and Elbeck are tied for the team lead with three assists each.
The Patriots have been outscored in the first half 6-5 but have outscored the opposition 7-6 in the second half over the first seven games. Mason was outshot 44-10 in the first two games of the season and then controlled the play during a three-game winning streak with a 51-18 advantage in shots on goal. The Patriots have been limited to five shots in each of their last two games. Hardison leads Mason with 14 shots and senior Alex Myers is second on the team with 10.
The Patriots and Terrapins are meeting for the 22nd time. In the last meeting, No. 15 Maryland scored twice in the first seven minutes on the way to a 3-0 win over Mason on Aug. 30, 2013 at College Park, Md. The Patriots will be looking for their first regular-season win in College Park since a 2-1 victory on Oct. 5, 1994. Maryland leads the all-time series 15-5-1.
SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION
Maryland (2-4-1) surrendered three first half goals in a 5-3 loss at Navy on Friday night in Annapolis, Md. Navy took the lead in the 12th minute and never looked back. Sophomore Jarena Harmon recorded a goal and an assist for the Terrapins.
Maryland is winless in its first three home games, with all three contests going to overtime. The Terrapins fell to TCU 2-1 in overtime, lost to No. 25 Pepperdine 1-0 in overtime and played to a 1-1 draw against Gardner-Webb.
After losing just once in their first four games of the season, the Terrapins have dropped three straight overall and have been outscored by a combined score of 8-4.
Harmon leads Maryland with five goals and 11 points, while junior Chelsea Jackson is second on the team with four goals and nine points. Harmon and Jackson have combined for nine of the team's 12 goals over seven games. Harmon was named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week after scoring all three goals for Maryland in a 3-2 win against William & Mary on Aug. 25.
Maryland has outscored opponents 7-6 in the first half and has been outscored 6-5 in the second half. The Terps rank fourth in the Big Ten with 12 goals on the season. The Terrapins have been outshot 104-76, including opponents holding a 60-41 edge in shots on goal.
The Terrapins have used three different goalkeepers. Sophomore Rachel Egyed has played in six games with three starts, sophomore Katelyn Jensen has played five games with two starts and senior Stephanie Senn has made two starts.
Maryland finished with an overall record of 6-12-1 last season and went 1-9-1 in the Big Ten. The Terrapins finished with a 5-6-0 mark at home and a 1-6-1 record on the road in 2015. Four of Maryland's five home victories were shutouts and nine of the Terrapins 11 games at Ludwig Field were decided by a single goal last season.
