Women's soccer heads into break on high note

The Terrapins women's soccer team's early ACC schedule has treated the team to its share of close contests.

Excluding a 4-1 loss to Virginia, three of the Terps' last four league matchups entering last night's game at Clemson were either ties or one-goal games.

They were treated to one more last night. And after a 2-1 win capped a marathon stretch of six games in 19 days, they were happy not to have to worry about another anytime soon.

"I think they are relieved that we got the win today and I think they are excited to have nine days until we play a game again," coach Brian Pensky said. "I think this is going to give us some much-needed rest."

Despite the grind of the ACC schedule, the No. 18 Terps (8-2-3, 2-2-1 ACC) failed to show any signs of fatigue as they took an early lead against Clemson. Midfielder Danielle Hubka scored from 20 yards out on a pass from forward Hayley Brock less than two minutes into the game, giving the Terps a 1-0 lead they would not relinquish.

"It was great to get on the board early, of course," Pensky said. "We'd been struggling for goals in the run of play so it was great to get it."

Last night also marked the first start for forward Jasmyne Spencer, whose last start came on Sept. 11 at James Madison. Spencer, who did not play until Sunday's game because of injuries suffered in the James Madison game, made her presence in the lineup known, scoring after a Clemson defender misplayed a ball in the 22nd minute.

"The last four games without Jasmyne, we had one goal in the run of play and tonight we had two goals in the run of play," Pensky said. "She just attracts so much attention with her pace and her defensive pressure. We play her 78 minutes and maybe that was a little too much because she did fatigue there at the end, but we just wanted her leadership and her presence out there."

Despite the Terps' 2-0 lead, Clemson (5-6, 0-4) did not go away. Liska Dobberstein scored in the 34th minute, cutting the Terps' lead in half. The score, however, would stay that way the rest of the night.

Goalkeeper Yewande Balogun and the ailing Terps defense, which was joined by junior Remi Kriz for her first start, weathered a Clemson barrage, as the Tigers took 17 shots in the game, seven of which were on goal. Balogun's only blemish was Dobberstein's goal, and she finished with six saves for the game.

"We tightened it up in the second half," Pensky said. "Many of their shots in the second half were from distance, which was relatively harmless."

Kriz was the fourth center back the Terps have used this year after injuries decimated the position in the last few weeks. Coming into the game, Kriz had played only 123 minutes this season, but she played all 90 minutes last night.

"We threw her into the fire, but I thought she responded well," Pensky said.

The Terps now have nine days to rest and prepare for their next opponent, No. 5 Wake Forest. The injuries to the backline show how the physicality of play has taken a toll on the Terps, and Pensky is looking forward to getting time to rest his team and shore up different aspects of the team in practice.

But for now, he'll take the win and immediate time off.

"Any win in the ACC, especially on the road, is a good win," Pensky said. "It's the end of a long stretch. We're tired."

dgallen@umdbk.com