The Terps trailed for more than 60 minutes until Lisa McIntyre scored in the 87th minute.
Maryland women’s soccer trailed Rutgers for most of its final match of the season. Though of the defensive zone. The attempt was blocked by Lisa McIntyre, though, as she hunted down a loose ball with a wide open net.
McIntyre collected the ball and sent it into the net to force a 1-1 draw. Maryland, who failed to score a goal in the first seven conference matches in 2024 and all 10 conference matches in 2023, celebrated like it won on Sunday afternoon in New Brunswick, New Jersey.
“To get a late goal is a good feeling, and that gives us some positivity to exit the season with,” Maryland interim head coach Michael Marchiano said. “We’re proud of the representation of the girls today. Despite it being a draw, I thought it maybe was one of our best performances of the season.”
Maryland (4-10-5) looked to build chances early on in the final match of the season.
Emily Lenhard took a shot in the second minute, but it was blocked. Then, Delaney DeMartino had an open chance in front of the net, but her shot barely sailed above the net.
Emily Lenhard produced Maryland’s first shot on goal in the 17th minute, but it was saved by Bodmer.
Then, just two minutes later, Kennedy Bell had a bottom right shot on net saved by Bodmer. Later in the 19th minute, Peyton Bernard had another shot blocked.
Despite Maryland dominating play early on, Rutgers struck first. After Katie Coyle was assessed a yellow card, Riley Tiernan took a free kick for the Scarlet Knights. Tiernan’s free kick pass was placed perfectly for Emily Mason, who rocketed a shot past Liz Beardsley to put Rutgers up.
“When our team is able to execute certain principles. It allows us, it allows us to perform at a higher level. It allows us to play a little bit more aggressively with the ball without the ball,” Marchiano said. “Today, you see the team performing at a high level, and that allows us to grow in the game and how aggressive we can be.”
In the 27th minute, Hannah Schapiro had a shot blocked as Maryland looked for an equalizer. Then, Tiernan hit the crossbar with a shot, almost extending Rutgers’ lead to two.
Beardsley made a second save on a Patricia Tsokos’ far shot in the 38th minute.
Maryland had a ton of chances in the first half and looked better than Rutgers, but still trailed. The Terps took five more shots than Rutgers, but the Scarlet Knights managed one more shot on goal.
“Our sport doesn’t always give you what you deserve or what’s fair, but I think there’s a minimum standard. That work ethic … from the team [has] got to be the baseline,” Marchiano said.
The start of the second half was much more uneventful than the first.
In the 58th minute, Baran drove toward the net and forced Beardsley to make a sliding save, as Baran was right in front of her. In the 63rd minute, Lenhard took a far skipping shot that Bodmer saved.
Coyle took a dangerous high shot in the 75th minute, she forced Bodmer to make a strong save and slap the ball above the net for a corner. But the ensuing corner ended with a goal kick.
In the 79th minute, Lauren Wrigley took a low left shot that was saved by Bodmer. Then Beardsley made a save on a Baran shot.
An 84th-minute Allie Post shot was saved by Beardsley. Then the goalie stood strong again on a subsequent Riley Morris try.
“We were definitely frustrated not to have finished off some of the other chances that we had. But the girls kept going … and, thankfully, we broke through in the end,” Marchiano said.
The late McIntyre goal forced the draw and prevented Rutgers from getting its 11th overall win and its seventh Big Ten win of the season.
Maryland outshot Rutgers 17-11 on Sunday, which was by far Maryland’s highest shot total in Big Ten play.
“We have some principles that we’ve asked the girls to organize the team by, and today, they did a really good job,” Marchiano said.
While the Terps’ season ends here, anything but a loss has to be seen as a positive result given Maryland’s performance in conference play over the last few seasons.
“Really proud of the way that they’ve closed the chapter and the way that they represented themselves today, and to see a little bit of joy on their faces as they exit the field, as they exit the program, it’s certainly nice to see that,” Marchiano said.
Three things to know
1. Rivalry was clear. This match got chippy as the second half moved on. Rutgers is Maryland’s biggest Big Ten rival, and it showed. There were 23 total fouls and four yellow cards dished out.
2. Ending on a high note. Although it was just a draw, the Terps celebrated like it was a win. Forcing a draw in that fashion against a rival and one of the best teams in the Big Ten is a step in the right direction for the Terps.
“The season overall hasn’t gone the way that we wanted it to, but we’re we’re proud of the representation that the girls showed today,” Marchiano said. “In terms of their energy, in terms of their fight, in terms of their togetherness, and then just in terms of their overall performance in the way that they played.”
3. Beardsley’s last six saves. The senior goalkeeper was strong in her final match as a Terp, making six impressive saves on seven Rutgers shots on goal.