COLLEGE PARK, MD. -- For the second time in as many weeks, Virginia remained tied with its opponent through 90 minutes and overtime was necessary to decide the winner. Fortunately for the Cavaliers, last night's game produced a slightly different result from their previous overtime contest.
With a grand total of zero goals through 110 minutes, No. 3 Virginia (9-1-1, 2-1-1 ACC) earned a 0-0 tie with Maryland (4-3-2, 1-3-1 ACC) in their fourth ACC game of the season.
Despite an uninspiring 1-3 conference record, the Terrapins are a squad fully capable of competing with the best in the country. Maryland showed its ability earlier this season in Charlottesville when the Terrapins knocked off then-No. 3 UCLA just days after Virginia accomplished the same feat. Also, Maryland took perennial-powerhouse North Carolina into double overtime before finally succumbing 2-1 on a sudden death penalty kick. Needless to say, the Cavaliers were well aware of the challenge that awaited them in College Park.
"I've said [the ACC is tough] from the very beginning," Virginia coach Steve Swanson said. "That's just the way it is in our conference. There are athletic teams, skillful teams and organized teams. You have to play well to beat them."
After a disappointing first loss last Friday, the Cavaliers were expected to come out with a bit of a chip on their shoulders last night. Although the first half did not disprove this theory, Maryland came prepared to defend its home turf and was successful throughout the first half.
With the combination of a tightly-packed defense and a periodic, counter-oriented offense, the Terrapins were able to keep the game at a scoreless tie heading into the half. It was Maryland who may have had the best opportunity through the game's first 45 minutes. With 19 minutes remaining in the half, Maryland forward Kimmy Francis found herself standing atop a free kick three yards beyond Virginia's box. With a six-player Cavalier wall facing her, Francis launched a shot that sailed well over the Virginia net.
"I thought we played quite well tonight," Swanson said. "But our finishing was a little disappointing. That's probably the thing that let us down tonight."
Throughout the second half Virginia continued to pound on a Terrapins defense that has not allowed more than two goals all season. Repeatedly, the Cavalier forwards snuck behind Maryland's flat defense and had opportunities to put the game away. But time after time Terrapin goalkeeper Nikki Resnick kept her team in the game with acrobatic saves.
"It was really frustrating, especially coming off our loss against Wake Forest," sophomore Shannon Foley said. "We really wanted to win this and by the way we played we deserved to win it."
Virginia will have another opportunity to gain a conference win this Saturday at 5 p.m. in their first home game in nearly a month.
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