Maryland women’s soccer vs. Purdue preview

Down at the half, the Terps trudged to the locker room dejected. Several close chances and a miscue in goal led to a 1-0 score with one half left to play. 45 minutes later, it was an entirely different story.

On Thursday night, speed was king for Maryland women’s soccer. A pair of second-half netters from Kelsey Smith and Mckinley Heaven pushed the Terps past Indiana, 2-1.

Now, Maryland moves on to face Purdue, hoping to continue their momentum against their third Big Ten opponent. The Boilermakers are coming off a close late-match loss to Iowa and look to bounce back against Maryland.

Sunday’s match will begin at noon at Ludwig Field and will stream on Big Ten Plus.

2024 Record: 7-9-2, 3-7-1 Big Ten

Taking over in 2023, head coach Richard Moodie has gained great notoriety for employing data and sports science into every element of preparation. Moodie won seven conference titles with South Alabama and has completely redefined Purdue’s soccer program in the last couple of years.

Purdue has been consistently outshooting their opponents this season, averaging 16.1 shots per match. The Boilermakers generally like to physically overpower their opponents with high-volume shooting and aggressive passing and jockeying in the midfield.

Cherry Yu, freshman forward, No. 11 - Already with two goals and seven starts on the season, Yu has made a significant mark on the pitch this season. She logged a season-high six shots in a win against Evansville and will look to test Maryland’s defense.

Chiara Singarella, senior forward, No. 10 - Singarella has exhibited immense poise and experience throughout the 2025 season. Her hat trick against Western Illinois proved crucial, and she will look to be a thorn in Maryland’s backline throughout the match.

Emily Edwards, goalkeeper, No. 26 - Edwards has provided a consistent and reliable presence in goal, touting a .786 save percentage so far this season. Even if Maryland’s offense has regained life, it will find major difficulty in getting past the gloves of Edwards in the clutch.

Overpowering opponents. Purdue has repeatedly been able to overpower weaker opponents, scoring four or more goals in wins over Indiana State, Ball State and Western Illinois. However, many matches against tough opponents have been far closer than the Boilermakers would like.

Penalties. The team has already accrued 15 yellow cards through 10 matches. If the midfield battle becomes too aggressive and hard-fought, the Boilermakers can get carried away and cause many unnecessary fouls and take themselves out of the match entirely.

1. Can the momentum continue? After their first conference win, the Terps appear to be in high spirits. If Michael Marchiano wants momentum to continue, he must capitalize on the team’s newfound hope.

2. Will Maryland make it two? Maryland has not won multiple conference matches since 2022. A second conference win would provide a sign of progress and improvement in the program after winning just one Big Ten matchup last season.

3. Can the offense deliver once more? For the first time this season, the Terps were able to turn the tides late as two second-half goals gave the Terps a much needed win. Maryland must continue this trend, as late-game strategy could prove to be crucial against Purdue.

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