COLLEGE PARK, Md. (Sept. 12, 2014) - Despite outshooting Maryland in its Big Ten Conference opener, the No. 25 Rutgers women's soccer team fell in its first game as a league member, 2-0, Friday night at Ludwig Field.

The Scarlet Knights (4-1-0, 0-1-0 Big Ten) turned up the pressure in the second half to outshoot the Terrapins (3-2-1, 1-0 Big Ten), 13-12, in the first Big Ten contest for both schools. But that pressure did not yield a goal for head coach Mike O'Neill and Co., as two first-half scores by the home side led to the Terps' win.

"We came out in the first half and we started off strong and did some good things. But what dictates the game is possession and we started giving the ball away in areas of the field that you don't want to," O'Neill said. "We gave them too much time on the ball in the back area where they got the opportunity to play balls forward.

"In the second half we were very proud of the team. When you give up a goal with 19 seconds left in the first, you can go into the locker room with your head down and that's it. But they didn't do that. I think that in the second half we just needed to be a bit more composed and confident in the opportunities that we created. We're a good side, but I think the difference in the two halves is that we didn't capitalize on our opportunities and they capitalized on really their two best chances."

Rutgers generated a number of opportunities in the second half, coming close in the 50th minute when senior forward Stef Scholz (South Hackensack, N.J.) drove into the box and struck a shot just wide of the net.

Overall in the second half, RU outshot the Terps, 11-5.

Natasha Ntone-Kouo tallied the second Terrapins' goal in the opening half with 19 seconds remaining, muscling through the RU back line and freshman goalkeeper Casey Murphy (Bridgewater, N.J.) to push a ball through defenders and into the back of the net from just outside the box.

The goal made it 2-0 UMD and also gave the Scarlet Knights their first deficit after the opening half in 15 matches (Sept. 29, 2013 at Louisville).

Maryland got on the board for the first goal of the match in the 21st minute on a free kick opportunity from about 30 yards out. Shannon Collins sent the ball in, drawing out Murphy. The ball snuck through the rookie keeper in traffic, allowing a free net for Maisie McCune who tapped in for the 1-0 lead. The goal put RU behind for the first time in 2014.

Murphy made four saves and took the first loss of her career, falling to 4-1-0. Despite the two goals, Murphy holds an .824 save percentage and 0.60 GAA.

The Scarlet Knights continue their Big Ten slate Friday, Sept. 19 at home against Michigan State in their first home league contest in program history. RU then faces Michigan on Sunday, Sept. 21 at 1 p.m. at Yurcak Field.

The Michigan State match will be broadcast live on BTN2Go and will be viewable with a BTN Plus subscription. The contest versus the Spartans will also re-air on BTN in front of a national audience on Monday, Sept. 22 at 9 a.m.

Rutgers' meeting with Michigan will air live on BTN at 1 p.m. The match marks the first for Rutgers women's soccer on BTN.

Game Notes

• The loss was the first for O'Neill as head coach. He is now 7-1-0 for his coaching career.
• The Scarlet Knights dropped to 1-6-1 all-time against Maryland.
• The loss snapped a nine-match unbeaten streak for RU dating back to Oct. 27 of last season.
• Rutgers was shut out by an opponent for the first time since the 2013 NCAA Tournament at No. 7 West Virginia (Nov. 16).
• The Scarlet Knights allowed two goals for the first time since a 2-2 draw at USF on Oct. 20 of last season.
• Junior Hayley Katkowski (Westford, Mass.) started her 49th consecutive game in the midfield for Rutgers.

Follow Rutgers Athletics on Facebook (Rutgers Athletics) and Twitter (@RUAthletics) for all of the latest news and updates. For specific updates regarding Rutgers women's soccer, follow the program on Facebook (Rutgers Women's Soccer), Twitter (@RUWSoccer) and Instagram (@RUWSoccer). Fans can receive timely information, including special offers and giveaways throughout the year on our social media outlets along with www.ScarletKnights.com.

-RU-