In the first of two exhibition matches this fall, the Terrapins men’s soccer team recorded a 3-3 tie against Creighton in Omaha, Neb.
A rematch of a Sept. 30, 2011 contest in College Park in which the Terps defeated the Blue Jays 1-0 behind a goal from Casey Townsend, Friday night’s contest featured, much, much more offense.
The No. 9 Terps staked a 2-0 lead 10 minutes into action, with goals from forwards John Stertzer and Patrick Mullins in the eighth and 10th minutes. Stertzer’s goal came on a header off a cross from midfielder Dan Metzger, and Mullins’ came after he took a long pass to the goal.
The Blue Jays scored in the 34th and 39th minutes to even the score. The Terps took a 3-2 lead into the half after midfielder Jereme Raley answered in the 40th minute with an unassisted chance.
Creighton tied the game at 78th minute on a goal by midfielder Jose Ribas.
It was clear that Terps coach Sasho Cirovski was using the game to see the most of his players he could, as 24 Terps saw action, and 22 of those players were on the field for at least 22 minutes. Midfielder Mikey Ambrose was the lone Terp to play all 90 minutes.
Creighton, on the other hand, had nine starters play the full game and used three substitutes.
Jordan Tatum, Keith Cardona and Cody Niedermeier all saw time in goal Friday, and all allowed one goal during their time in the net. Tatum started and recorded three saves, and Niedermeier had two. The Terps lost 2011’s primary starter, Will Swaim, to graduation after the season.
Mullins took four of the Terps’ 12 shots, placing two on goal, while forward Sunny Jane was the only other Terp to take multiple shots, finishing with two, both which were on goal. For the game, the Blue Jays outshot the Terps, 18-12.
The Terps play their second and final exhibition match on Aug. 20 against Penn State at Ludwig Field. They open the regular season on Aug. 26 in College Park against No. 7 Louisville, the same squad that knocked them out of the NCAA Tournament in November.
