#17 Terps Cruise Past The Citadel, 9-0

August 23, 2013

Sophomore Ashley Spivey totaled a career-best seven points on her first career hat trick and one assist to lead the No. 17 University of Maryland women’s soccer team to a 9-0 victory over The Citadel in its 2013 season opener Friday night at Ludwig Field.

The nine goals were the most for the Terps since August 22, 2011 when Maryland won at Loyola by a 9-0 margin. Maryland’s nine-goal output was the most at Ludwig Field since the Terrapins defeated Mount St. Mary’s 10-0 on Sept. 21, 2008. Spivey’s seven points are the most for a Terp in a game since Ashley Grove had seven on three goals and an assist in the victory over the Greyhounds.

“Today was a great start to the season at Ludwig Field in front of a good crowd,” said Maryland head coach Jonathan Morgan, who started his second season at the helm of the Terrapin program. “It was good to see our starters get some quality minutes and perform well, but it was also good to get our reserves a lot of time tonight. We still have some competitions going on, so it was good to see everyone get an opportunity to play.”

The Terps (1-0-0) opened the first half showing their quality with solid shots by senior Megan Gibbons, sophomore Aubrey Baker and freshman Lauren Berman. All three were saved by Bulldogs goalkeeper Naomi Carter, but Berman’s deflected past the end line giving the Terrapins a corner kick and another opportunity that would not be denied.

Sophomore Shannon Collins sent the corner to the far post where Berman redirected it toward the middle of the box where Spivey had some space and one-timed a volley into the right side of the Citadel net in the 18th minute.

Spivey put the Terps up 2-0 in the 25th minute when she got on the end of a cross from senior Hayley Brock and again finished with a one-timer.

Maryland would take a 3-0 lead into halftime when Berman scored her first collegiate goal in the 26th minute. Sophomore Riley Barger played the ball into the right corner for Gibbons, who sent the ball across the face of the goal where Berman made the easy finish.

The Terrapins opened the second half with a flurry, scoring four goals in a five-minute span.

Baker started the scoring run with a brilliant finish from just inside the top right corner of the Bulldogs’ 18. Spivey slotted a pass through a pair of Citadel defenders, leaving Baker with a wide-open look at the goal and she ripped a shot on the run to make it a 4-0 game in the 52nd minute.

Spivey finished her scoring to put the Terps up 5-0 in the 54th minute with an easy finish inside the Citadel 18 off of a great setup by Berman.

A Bulldog foul just to the right of the circle atop the Citadel 18 gave Maryland a free kick. Sophomore Erika Joab took the free kick and sent a low shot around the Bulldogs’ wall and past the keeper into the lower left corner for a 6-0 lead in the 56th minute.

Brock finished the flurry with her first goal of the season in the 57th minute. After picking off an errant pass inside the Citadel zone she split a pair of defenders and scored easily on a breakaway to make the score 7-0.

The lead grew to 8-0 in the 61st minute when redshirt sophomore Alex Doody, who missed the entire 2012 season due to injury, scored her first goal since Aug. 29, 2011. Collins started the play with a cross from the left side near the top of the 18. Junior Cory Ryan collected the ball and slipped a simple pass through the defense to Doody, who finished from inside the six.

Maryland wrapped up the scoring in the 72nd minute. Ryan earned the Terps a corner kick with a hard drive down the left side and junior Amanda Gerlitz and sophomore Sarah Molina cashed in on the set-piece opportunity. Gerlitz sent a great corner to the back side post where Molina got on the end of it and headed the ball down into the left side of the Citadel net.

“All in all, I’m happy with tonight’s performance,” said Morgan, “but we’re aware that the speed and quality of play will increase on Monday.”

The Terps return to action on Monday, Aug. 26 when they host Villanova at 7 p.m. at Ludwig Field.