Maryland women’s soccer couldn’t overcome allowing three first-half goals by Navy, losing 5-3 Wednesday in Annapolis. It was the Terps’ third straight loss, and their first all-time against the Midshipmen in 11 matches.
Kate Waters, Jarena Harmon, and Chelsea Jackson scored for Maryland in the second half, but by then the game was basically over.
Although the Terps were only out-shot 17-15, they took only four shots in the first half. The Midshipmen had more opportunities and were able to put more pressure on Maryland goalie Rachel Egyed. Egyed made two impressive saves, but once again struggled, giving up three goals in the first half.
Navy’s first goal came on a corner kick in the 12th minute. Egyed got a piece of the corner but couldn’t clear the ball, and it bounced around the box before Alex Jackson tapped it in. Ashley Fairow came close to adding a goal in the 16th minute, but Egyed made a fantastic diving save.
The Midshipmen added to their lead in the 33rd minute, when Clare MacAdam scored on a low shot from the right side. It was MacAdam’s fifth goal after leading the Patriot League with 12 goals last year, and she added another on a penalty kick in the 83rd minute. Rachel Feldman added to Navy’s lead by converting a penalty kick in the 40th minute following Marissa Knott’s foul on Natalie Dzhandzhapanyan.
Maryland had some chances in the first half, but couldn’t finish anything. The Terps couldn’t convert a corner in the 3rd minute, and Waters had a header go high off a corner in the sixth minute.
The Terps had opportunities later in the half as well, but Hannah Hoefs didn’t find a teammate on a cross in the 30th minute, and Jlon Flippens’s free kick sailed over Harmon’s head in the 35th minute.
After exiting Sunday’s game with an injury, Harmon came off the bench in the 22nd minute, and provided an immediate boost to Maryland’s offense. She added her fifth goal of the season in the 76th minute, finishing a Flippens free kick that was initially deflected by Navy goalie Dayton Wetherby to cut the lead to 4-2. She also got the ball around a defender and fed Waters for the Terps’ first goal of the night in the 56th minute.
Harmon only helped add to the Terps’ aggressive play in the second half. Phillips and Flippens both had shots saved in the 47th and 49th minute, and Waters scored in the 56th minute. Harmon had a chance to cut it to 3-2 in the 70th minute, but her shot went left of the goal.
Cadie Higginson answered back for Navy in the 75th minute, scoring easily with Jensen out of position following a shot from Eleanor Pratt. Following Harmon’s goal, Navy added a goal in the 82nd minute on a penalty kick from MacAdam.
Jackson added a goal for Maryland in the 86th minute, but by then it was too late.
The Terps wrap up non-conference play at Ludwig Field Sunday at 7 p.m. against George Mason.
Three things to know
- Rachel Egyed’s struggles continue. After struggling in the net on Sunday, Egyed gave up three goals in the first half Wednesday. That’s now five goals she’s surrendered in the last two halves, more than she had allowed this season combined.
- Jarena Harmon gives Maryland’s offense an instant boost. Harmon was once again excellent on offense, chipping in a goal and an assist off the bench. She excels at making plays and creating them for others, and her play has been a bright spot so far this season.
- Maryland is about to enter the heart of its schedule. Following their final non-conference game Sunday, the Terps will have a challenging road ahead. They face two ranked teams in their first three conference games: No. 23 Rutgers on Sept. 16 and No. 24 Northwestern on Sept. 25.