While Maryland women’s soccer suffered its first loss of the season Sunday at Rutgers, the Terps hung with one of the best teams in the country for most of the game. Next, they get a giant step down in competition, as Maryland takes on a struggling Illinois team in Champaign. Last season, Maryland defeated Illinois for its third win of the season, the team’s final victory before a nine-game losing streak to end the year.
The Terps will have to proceed without Mikayla Dayes, whose injury suffered in August is season-ending, head coach Ray Leone confirmed this week.