Maryland women’s soccer falls to No. 12 Washington, 2-0, in Big Ten opener
Maryland women’s soccer opened Big Ten play with a difficult road test Thursday night, falling 2-0 to No. 12 Washington at Husky Soccer Stadium in Seattle. The Terrapins stayed within striking distance for much of the match, but Washington controlled possession and generated far more attacking opportunities. Maryland dropped to 3-3-1 overall and 0-1 in the Big Ten, while Washington remained unbeaten at 6-0-1 and improved to 1-0 in conference play.
Washington put Maryland under pressure almost immediately, recording the first two shots of the match in the fifth minute. The Huskies continued to dictate the pace and eventually broke through at the 22:01 mark when Maylen Montoya scored her second goal of the season to give Washington a 1-0 advantage. Maryland struggled to establish possession in the attacking third and did not record its first shot until Lisa McIntyre fired wide in the 27th minute.
The Terrapins remained within one goal largely because of their defensive work and goalkeeper Faith Luckey. Washington finished the opening half with eight shots compared with just one for Maryland, forcing the Terps to spend extended stretches defending around their own penalty area. Luckey was credited with multiple saves before halftime, and Maryland went into the break trailing only 1-0 despite Washington controlling the majority of the action.
Washington continued attacking after halftime and Luckey again helped keep Maryland alive. The Huskies eventually found the insurance goal at 55:41 when Angelica Chou scored her second goal of the season, pushing Washington’s advantage to 2-0. The goal gave Maryland an even steeper climb against a nationally ranked opponent that had allowed the Terps very little room to create offensively.
Maryland attempted to generate more pressure as the second half progressed, earning two corner kicks after failing to earn one in the opening 45 minutes. Lilly Bane accounted for Maryland’s second and final shot in the 76th minute, but the Terrapins were unable to put either of their two attempts on goal. Washington goalkeeper Tanner Ijams consequently finished the night without needing to make a save.
The final statistics showed the extent of Washington’s territorial advantage. The Huskies outshot Maryland 14-2 and put eight shots on goal, while neither of Maryland’s attempts was on target. Each team finished with two corner kicks, and the foul count remained relatively even with Maryland committing eight and Washington seven.
One of Maryland’s biggest positives remained the play of Luckey. Maryland’s official recap credited the senior goalkeeper with five saves, while the team box score listed six Maryland saves because one additional stop was recorded as a team save early in the first half. Luckey also reached an important career milestone against Washington, collecting her 100th career save according to Maryland’s subsequent preview for the Oregon match.
The offense, however, was unable to build on Maryland’s 2-1 victory over Binghamton four days earlier. Maryland entered the Washington match having scored seven goals through its first six contests, but the Terps were held scoreless for the third time in four matches. Maryland had previously been shut out in consecutive 2-0 defeats against Navy and Old Dominion before responding with the Senior Day victory over Binghamton.
Washington presented a considerably different challenge than Maryland had seen during much of its nonconference schedule. The Huskies entered Big Ten play nationally ranked and unbeaten, and their ability to keep the ball prevented Maryland from establishing consistent transition opportunities. Washington finished with 14 shots and eight on target while limiting Maryland attackers such as Peyton Bernard, McIntyre and the rest of the Terps’ front line to very limited chances.
Maryland’s defense still deserves some credit for keeping the match competitive for long stretches. Washington generated considerable pressure, but the Terrapins allowed only two goals against a team that controlled the ball throughout the night. Luckey and the Maryland back line repeatedly prevented Washington from turning its possession advantage into a runaway result.
The larger concern moving forward is Maryland’s ability to create enough offense against Big Ten opponents. Two total shots and no attempts on goal make it extremely difficult to win regardless of how well the defense performs. Maryland will need better possession through the midfield and more service into dangerous areas if it wants to consistently challenge the conference’s stronger teams.
The loss represented Maryland’s first Big Ten contest of the season and began a demanding stretch of conference play. The Terps remained on the West Coast following the Washington game, with Oregon next on the schedule before Maryland returns home. Maryland’s upcoming home stretch includes conference competition as the Terps try to improve on their 2-8-1 Big Ten record from the 2025 season.
MSB Take
Facing a nationally ranked Washington team in Seattle was always going to be a major challenge, and Maryland’s defense did enough to keep the game within reach for much of the night. Luckey continues to give the Terrapins dependable goalkeeping, and without several strong stops this result could have been much more lopsided.
The offensive numbers are the issue. Maryland cannot expect to win many Big Ten matches while producing two shots and zero shots on goal, especially against the upper tier of the conference. The Terps have shown they can create chances this season, but they need to find a way to maintain possession and generate consistent pressure when the level of competition rises.
A 2-0 road loss to a ranked Washington team is not disastrous by itself, particularly at the beginning of conference play. How Maryland responds offensively will matter much more as the Big Ten schedule progresses. The Terps have enough defensive structure and quality goalkeeper play to stay competitive, but they need the attack to provide significantly more support.
