When the Terrapin women’s soccer scheduled was released, it’s fair to say that they hoped to start the season 4-0.
Nobody expected it to happen the way it has.
The Terps (4-0-0) clinched the title for the First Tennessee Lady Vol Classic Sunday with a 4-0 win over Kennesaw State. Tournament MVP Jasmyne Spencer and defender Caitlin McDowell each scored twice en route to the victory.
The Terps are now averaging four goals-per-game on the young season and are outscoring opponents by nearly three goals-per-game.
“We knew if we played well and if we were sharp and disciplined that we would create enough chances,” coach Brian Pensky said following the victory. “I’m quite pleased right now with how we’re connecting and playing dangerous.”
The win was the Terps’ second clean sheet of the season, with Yewande Balogun playing most of the match in net.
Forward Ashley Grove, who has scored four goals on the season, continued to create chances Sunday, assisting on each of Spencer’s goals.
“What you hope is that you create enough chances to score a couple goals in a game,” Pensky said. “I didn’t expect to be averaging four goals-per-game at this point.”
The Terps were able to bounce back from an emotionally charged victory over host Tennessee on Friday, battling fatigue early in the match to finally break through the Owls’ back line in the 24th minute with Spencer’s first tally.
“Bouncing back from a great win on Friday night to a game where there’s no atmosphere, the challenge is different,” Pensky said. “I thought we were good, but we didn’t play as well as we wanted to.”
The Terps are back at it Sunday, when they host Stony Brook at Ludwig Field.
Conor Walsh is the Diamondback’s Terrapin Women’s Soccer beat writer. He can be reached at cwalshdbk@gmail.com.