Non-rev report: Maryland soccer advances, women's basketball remains perfect

jariabutler
3 days ago
3 min read

Men’s Soccer

After a tough first loss of the season in the Big Ten semifinals to UCLA, Maryland men’s soccer drew a four-seed in the NCAA Tournament with a first round bye. After UNC outlasted North Florida in a thrilling overtime game, Maryland would host the former ACC rival for a Sunday afternoon contest that proved to need more than regulation to settle.

Rocket Ritarita opened the scoring in the 43^rd minute with both Sadam Masereka and Jace Clark assisting the goal, but the Tar Heels would tie it minutes into the second half before the two teams maintained the tie through regulation into extra time.

But it’d be goalkeeper Laurin Mack to send Maryland into the next round after netting the game-wining penalty kick to cement the 4-3 finish.

Maryland has won four national titles, with three under head coach Sasho Cirovski in 2005, 2008, and 2018, while the 63 NCAA Tournament wins mark the sixth-most all-time. Cirvoski is also in the midst of his 31^st tournament appearance with 52 NCAA Tournament wins marking the second-most all-time.

Maryland will host 13^th-seed UConn next Saturday, Nov. 29 for a 1 PM start on ESPN+.

Volleyball

Maryland Volleyball was unable to snap its losing streak again after being defeated by 9th-ranked Indiana and 18th-ranked Purdue, both 3-0, marking its ninth consecutive loss.

In both matchups, the terps could not secure a set. A common denominator in both was Maryland struggled defensively, with only five blocks against Purdue and allowing Indiana 54 kills.

The Terps fell in three sets to both 19^th-ranked Minnesota on Friday and 24^th-ranked Penn State on Saturday to move to 8-20 overall and 1-17 in the Big Ten. Maryland will return home on Wednesday, Nov. 26 for a 7 PM start vs. Washington.

Women’s Basketball

9^th-ranked Maryland women’s basketball (7-0) has remained undefeated early in the season for the 10th time under head coach Brenda Frese.

With their most recent win over Princeton, 84-68, four Terps hit double digits. Senior Kaylene Smikle scored 13 points; freshman Addi Mack had 15 points; senior Saylor Poffenbarger contributed 19; and junior Oluchi Okananwa led with 20.

Mack earned Freshman of the Week the first time a Terp has received the award since Shyanne Sellers in 2021.

"We've got a lot of great experience on this team when you talk about Saylor, Oluchi, Yarden Garzon and Smikle. It doesn't solely have to be on anyone's shoulders," said head coach Brenda Frese.

Maryland’s sixth win came after a 46-point win vs. Bethune-Cookman to move to 6-0 while on Sunday, Maryland cruised on an 84-62 win vs. George Mason after Oluchi Okananwa posted a career-high 23 points along with five assists and four rebounds. Yarden Garzon also added a season-high 16 points with Maryland scoring at least 80 points in each of its first seven games for the first time during the 2000s.

Maryland will now head to the Discover Puerto Rico Classic this week with a matchup against 20^th-ranked Kentucky on Wednesday, Nov. 26 with tipoff at 5:30 PM.

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