BALTIMORE, Md. --- The Pacific Lutheran Women's Soccer team wrapped up their east coast road trip on Saturday, splitting the trip as they fall to No.25 McDaniel College 2-0.
 
Junior Olivia Boehm tried to start Saturday's game the same way she started Friday's with a shot in the first minute that was saved by the McDaniel keeper. The Lutes controlled the possession in the opening ten minutes, before the Green Terror found their stride, taking six shots that all missed the target.
 
As PLU's offense was stifled by the McDaniel defense in the latter half of the opening period, the Terror gained momentum in the final minute, beating the Lutes defense and firing a shot off of a corner that found the upper corner of the Lutes goal. The Terror's last-second score gave them a 1-0 lead entering half time.
 
Coming out of the break, the Lutes began to apply the pressure yet again, as senior Julia Causbie took two shots that were blocked, as well as sophomore Liv Olson's rebounded shot was blocked by the defense.
 
McDaniel answered with a pair of shots of their own, with one eanring junior goalkeeper Abby Winkler a save and the other missing the target. With the Terror slowing down senior Hannah Cecil, Causbie kept firing but was unable to beat the keeper. 20 minutes in, McDaniel took an array of shots that were unsuccessful, before they added to their lead in the 72^nd minute on a shot in the upper left portion of the Lutes net.
 
Now trailing by two goals, Cecil took her first shot of the game in the 80^th minute, but was stopped by the goalkeeper. The Lutes forward final shot came eight minutes later, and was yet again unable to find the back of the net. The top-25 ranked Green Terror defended their home turf and knocked off the Lutes 2-0. Leaving Maryland with a 1-1 record, the Lutes tough non-conference schedule will continue when they return home next weekend.
 
The Green Terror took two more shots than the Lutes (15 to 13) and added five shots on target to the Lutes four. Julia Causbie led the Lutes with five shots, one of which on-goal, while Cecil's two shots came late in the contest and both of which were saved. Abby Winkler made three saves in the contest. Head Coach Seth Spidahl gave his bench some big-game experience as 10 Lutes came off the bench and earned minutes. Zoe Markquart was the lone reserve to record a shot in 28 minutes played.
 
"Tough result for us today, credit to McDaniel. We were tired, certainly scheduling this road trip against two top-25 preseason teams back to back, both at their home field, we knew it was going to be a challenge." Said Head Coach Seth Spidahl.

"We took a lot out of our starting lineup but it was great because we had to get other players on our team opportunities today and they learned a lot and I know we learned a lot about our team. It was a tough result because I felt like on a different day  we could win that game but we were just fatigued. We played a lot of new players that are still learning and that's just kind of where our team is at right now."

"If someone were to told me would come out here and to Baltimore and play two top-25 teams and go 1-1, I would take that. Overall, very positive weekend, we gained a lot of confidence we saw what sort of potential we could be. I'm very happy with the players, they worked extremely hard, fought all the way to the end and showed really good grit! Today's second half we played really well and created a lot of shots on goal; it was the best offensive half of the weekend but we just couldn't find a goal."

"I'm very proud of this team, we put this group under a really tough challenge and I don't know if you could find a more challenging preseason weekend to travel. So like I said, I'm super proud of the players and to come out here and still get a positive and go 1-1, I would take that. We have a lot of work to do but our potential is high this year and it's exciting. Go Lutes!"

The Lutes return to the west coast as they prepare to host Claremont-Mudd-Scripts and No.16 Case Western Reserve next Friday and Saturday on East Field.
 
To follow Lutes coverage all season long, please follow us on social media; PLU Athletics on Facebook, @GoLutes on X.com and Instagram.