In its first return to College Park since the 2012 NCAA Tournament, the Stony Brook women’s soccer team demonstrated resilience to remain undefeated.
For their first road match of the season, the Seawolves (1-0-1) took on the Maryland Terrapins (1-0-1) at College Park on Sunday. Despite falling behind twice, Stony Brook secured a 2-2 tie by answering at every turn.
After scoring quickly in their season opener, the Seawolves found themselves on the wrong side of an early, opening goal in their second game of the year. In the second minute, a through ball by Maryland midfielder Ava Morales penetrated Stony Brook’s offside trap and set up forward Kelsey Smith for a one-on-one opportunity against goalkeeper Nicolette Pasquarella.
Patient as ever, Smith waited for Pasquarella to come out of the net before chipping it by her to give Maryland the advantage. After Pasquarella saved a second Smith attempt in the seventh minute, the Seawolves broke through.
In the 10th minute, forward Gabrielle Côté finished off a cross from defender Sammy Hannwacker to tie things up at one goal apiece. After equalizing, Stony Brook sustained its pressure for the following 18 minutes, as it forced Maryland goalkeeper Liz Beardsley to make a pair of stops in that time frame.
However, it was the Terrapins who found the net next following the early flurry. In the 41st minute, a tackle by midfielder Maya Corbett — who was facing her own goal — resulted in the ball falling to Maryland midfielder Lisa McIntyre in the box. Once again, Pasquarella rushed out to meet the threat but was beaten to her left for a second time.
Undeterred by Maryland’s unorthodox goal, the Seawolves responded just before halftime. In the 43rd minute, rookie forward Leah Rifas received a long-range cross from a free kick by Hannah Maracina and fired the ball into the bottom right corner of the net to level the match at 2-2.
Although each side was held scoreless in the second half, both teams created several scoring chances. Stony Brook’s best opportunities to take the lead came in the 54th and 59th minutes. First, forward Luciana Setteducate struck the post, and shortly after, a free-kick attempt by Maracina that was heading towards the goal after sailing over the wall was spectacularly saved by a diving Beardsley.
After the Terrapins’ shot stopper made two quick saves in succession six minutes later, Maryland began to push forward and create its own chances. However, it was Pasquarella’s turn to shine. With the aid of the Seawolves’ backline, she shut down the home side down the stretch to ensure the match ended in a draw.
“Before the game, we talked about making a statement,” head coach Tobias Bischof said in a postgame interview with Stony Brook Athletics. “I believe we did that. It’s not easy to play your second game of the season at a Power Four school, but we didn’t shy away.”
Stony Brook was outshot 15 (six shots on goal) to nine (seven shots on goal). Côté’s tally gave her two goals through two matches in 2024, while Rifas scored the first goal of her collegiate career. Hannwacker’s assist was also the first of her career. Conversely, Maracina’s assist marked the second of her career.
Pasquarella finished with three saves. Her counterpart — Beardsley — made five stops.
The Seawolves will be back at Kenneth P. LaValle Stadium for their next game on Thursday. They will host the Fairleigh Dickinson University Knights, who are 0-0-1 after a scoreless draw with Seton Hall. Opening kickoff is scheduled for 5 p.m.
