Spivey scores two as No. 9 Maryland women’s soccer cruises past N.C. State

Freshman Ashley Spivey scored twice to lead the No. 9 University of Maryland women’s soccer team to a decisive 3-0 shutout of NC State Sunday afternoon at the Dail Soccer Stadium.

The Terrapins improve to 10-3-2 overall on the season and regained the top spot in the ACC with 16 points on a 5-1-1 mark. The Wolfpack falls to 5-9-0 overall and is winless in conference play at 0-5-0.

It didn’t take long for the Terps’ quality to shine through. In just the game’s third minute junior Hayley Brock took the ball down the right side and played a cross to the left side of the 18 where Spivey was waiting. She got off a brilliant volley, but NC State keeper Madison Shaw sent her effort over the crossbar.

Freshman Shannon Collins took the ensuing corner kick which was headed out by a Wolfpack defender, but the ball went right to sophomore Cory Ryan, who laced another shot on goal, but Shaw was there to turn that one away as well.

But Shaw couldn’t keep up with the offensive pressure Maryland kept bringing and the Terps broke through in the fifth minute. Shaw saved another shot by Brock, but the rebound went to Ryan, who calmly brought the ball into the 18 from the right side and found a wide-open Brock near the top of the six-yard box and she easily finished to give the Terps a 1-0 lead.

In the 13th minute senior Becky Kaplan had a quality shot, but once again Shaw came up with a good stop. However, the rebound went off to the right to Brock, who played a cross to the weak side for Spivey. She finished neatly into the right side of the goal, but the assistant referee’s flag was up for offside and the goal came off the board.

Maryland kept attacking and finally got through in the 21st minute to take a 2-0 lead. Senior Domenica Hodak played a long ball over the top of the Wolfpack backline and Spivey snuck through unmarked. Spivey took one touch with her knee before finishing with composure into the right side of the goal.

The Terps’ offensive attack was relentless, but Shaw was brilliant in goal for the Wolfpack. Kaplan consistently timed terrific runs through the NC State defense and three times had 1v1 opportunities, but each time Shaw came up with the big save for NC State.

The Wolfpack tried to mount some offense, but the Terrapin defense held strong and redshirt freshman keeper Rachelle Beanlands easily stopped the two shots that were on frame.

The second half started out much like the first with Kaplan getting another shot on goal and Shaw making another save.

NC State desperately tried to get on the board and picked up its offensive pressure in the second half, spurred on by the play of Jennie Krauser.

The Wolfpack appeared to cut the Terrapin lead to one in the 57th minute. State’s Kaley Shlaes took a hard shot from distance and Beanlands was there for the save, but she couldn’t control the rebound. Krauser was there to collect the loose ball and put it right back in the Maryland net. However, just like in the first half to the Terps, the offside flag was up and the goal was taken off the board.

Maryland wasn’t content to just sit back with a two-goal lead and it was Spivey who put the Terps up 3-0 in the 63rd minute. The Sparrows Point, Md., native showed blazing speed down the left side, running past the Wolfpack backline. She then showed great composure by waiting for Shaw to come off her line and commit. That opened up the goal and Spivey calmly placed the shot into the right side of the goal.

Shaw made a mistake with a sloppy goal kick in the 79th minute and freshman Alexis Prior-Brown nearly took advantage with a 1v1 opportunity, but Shaw made up for it by stopping two shots from Prior-Brown to keep it a 3-0 Terrapin lead.

Maryland had quality looks from freshmen Gabby Galanti and Aubrey Baker in the final minutes, but once again it was Shaw coming up with big saves for the Wolfpack.

“We had a good performance today and we finally were able to secure a shutout,” said Maryland head coach Jonathan Morgan. “Our kids in the back work so hard every game and they don’t always get the credit they really deserve. A shutout always gives a little more affirmation.

“I thought our kids on a whole did a good job of executing what we discussed heading into this game. Our forwards and midfielders were dangerous today and they created a lot of opportunities for us to score. Unfortunately for us, State’s goalkeeper was phenomenal and she made some big time saves.”

“As usual, we will go home, get some rest, and prepare for our next opponent,” continued Morgan. “Boston College is a tremendous team and we are going to need to be at our best.”

Beanlands finished the match with six saves to pick up her second full clean sheet of the season, while Shaw ended the match with 17 saves.