Maryland women’s soccer hosts Nebraska Sunday in the team’s final home contest of the regular season.
After a 5-0 defeat on Thursday in Michael Marchiano’s first match as interim head coach, the Terps look to end their home schedule on a positive note.
Sunday’s match will kick-off at 1 p.m. from Ludwig Field and stream on Big Ten Plus.
Nebraska Cornhuskers (4-8-1, 1-5-1 Big Ten)
Nebraska, led by head coach John Walker, is having a down year after making the NCAA Tournament quarterfinals in 2023. The Cornhuskers were ranked as high as No. 6 this season, but quickly fell out of the national rankings.
In Big Ten play, Nebraska has lost to then-No. 5 Michigan State, then-No. 17 Iowa, Michigan, then-No. 15 Penn State and Rutgers, while its one win came over Illinois on Sept. 26.
Nebraska’s other three victories came against Colorado State, Creighton and Oregon State.
Players to watch
Sarah Weber, senior midfielder/forward, No. 42 — Weber leads the Cornhuskers with nine goals this season, at least six more goals than any other Cornhusker. She also has two assists. She recorded 16 goals and six assists in 2023 and 10 goals and five assists in 2022, en route to two first-team All-Big Ten selections.
Florence Belzile, senior midfielder/forward, No. 10 — Belzile has a goal on 26 shots and four assists this season. The Montreal, Canada, native is in her fourth season with Nebraska and was named a 2024 Big Ten Preseason Player to Watch. In 2023, she posted three goals and 17 assists.
Reese Snowden, freshman defender, No. 18 — Snowden is in her first season with Nebraska, tallying three goals as a defender. The Manhattan, Kansas, native has made 11 appearances and five starts in her freshman year. She scored all her goals in back-to-back matches, with one coming against Creighton and two at Oregon State.
Strength
Staying onside. Nebraska has done a great job of staying onside in 2024, as the Cornhuskers have only been called offsides 11 times. That mark is tied for the least offsides infractions in the Big Ten.
Weakness
Goal differential. Nebraska is tied for the fourth-worst goal differential in the Big Ten at -8, scoring 16 goals and conceding 26. Those 26 goals against is third-worst mark in the Big Ten. Much of that may have to do with Nebraska not having a true starting goalkeeper, as Cece Villa and Samantha Hauk have split most of the time.
Three things to watch
1. The Marchiano effect. Maryland looked strong in the first half against No. 20 Penn State, in what was Marchiano’s first match as interim head coach, despite the scoreline reading 5-0. Against a seemingly weaker opponent Sunday, this could be where Maryland finally breaks through in Big Ten play.
2. Final game in College Park. Maryland women’s soccer will play in front of its home fans for the last time in 2024. The Terps are 1-5-2 at home this season and will look to have a better showing at Ludwig Field.
3. Proving grounds. After the coaching change on Thursday, it is clear Maryland women’s soccer will soon see some alterations. These final four matches of the season — especially the last home match — gives both the coaching staff and the players a chance to prove themselves before decisions are made in the offseason.
