The Big Ten tournament seeding scenario was simple for Maryland men’s soccer entering Sunday’s conference finale at Michigan. Don’t lose and clinch a home game in the quarterfinals next weekend.
In the 34th minute, when defender Donovan Pines’ headed clearance hit the back of his own net, that objective became much more challenging on the road, trailing by a goal.
Late in the second half, though, as Maryland pushed for the vital equalizer, Pines rose up and headed another cross, this time on his own team’s corner kick. It rung off the crossbar, but defender Brett St. Martin collected the rebound and scored his first-career goal to even the scoreline in the 78th minute and force overtime, giving the Terps a clear chance to clinch home field advantage.
But just 33 seconds into the added period, forward Jack Hallahan earned Michigan the Big Ten quarterfinals match instead, beating goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair for the 2-1 win.
Maryland falls into the No. 5 seed in the Big Ten tournament with the loss, drawing a matchup at Michigan State next weekend. The Spartans beat the Terps 2-0 on Oct. 5.
This marks the first time since the Terps joined the Big Ten in 2014 that they won’t host a game in the conference’s postseason.
The Terps held a 7-6 shot advantage in the first half, but Michigan controlled the tempo early on. The Wolverines attacked heavily down the wings and used crosses to gain entry into the box. For most of the opening period, Maryland’s back line was able to fend off those opportunities.
Hallahan forced a miscue for the opening score. He beat Maryland defender Matt Di Rosa on the right wing, swinging in a cross toward forward Noah Kleedtke on the near post.
Kleedtke was unable to get in front of Pines, who has headed away many threats throughout the season as Maryland’s defensive leader. But this one went backward and unintentionally gave Michigan a 1-0 lead.
The Wolverines almost took advantage of another opportunity when Maryland midfielder Andrew Samuels slipped and fell three minutes into the second half. Michigan had a four-on-two breakaway, but Di Rosa miracuously cleared the ball off the goal line after a shot beat St. Clair.
Maryland possesed better in the second half, pushing for an equalizer that would let them stay in College Park next weekend for the conference tournament.
Forward Justin Gielen played a through ball to St. Martin, whose cross was deflected out of bounds for the corner kick that would give the Terps their game-tying moment. Midfielder Eli Crognale found the 6-foot-5 Pines, whose effort ricocheted to St. Martin for an equalizer that forced overtime.
But less than a minute into the added period, Hallahan beat St. Clair on a one-on-one to secure the 2-1 victory. The Terps’ Big Ten postseason run won’t run through Ludwig Field, where the Terps are 4-3-1 this season.
