Last week in its regular-season finale against Michigan, the Maryland men’s soccer team’s undefeated season was 61 seconds from ending. The Terps trailed, 2-1, before rallying for two goals to earn the victory.
Sunday in the Big Ten tournament quarterfinals, No. 8-seed Michigan again challenged No. 1-seed Maryland. The game was tied, 2-2, in the second overtime. But after forward George Campbell netted the game-winner in the 103rd minute, midfielder Keegan Kelly tackled his teammate to the ground.
With a 3-2 win over the Wolverines at Ludwig Field, the No. 1 Terps advance to the Big Ten tournament semifinals, when they’ll play No. 4-seed Michigan State on Friday in Westfield, Indiana.
“We seem to have a flair for the dramatic this year,” coach Sasho Cirovski said. “I love my team’s resiliency, but I’m a little frustrated with the fact that we’re making things this interesting. This game could’ve easily gone into penalties. George came through with a great play.”
Maryland (16-0-2, 7-0-1 Big Ten) entered Sunday after completing its first undefeated regular season since 1968. Yet the Terps didn’t celebrate the accomplishment. Instead, they turned their attention toward winning their third consecutive Big Ten tournament. They anticipated another tough fight from Michigan.
Neither team created many chances to begin the match, but Maryland’s penetration caused an own-goal in the 30th minute. While trying to control the ball, Michigan defender Andre Morris kicked forward Gordon Wild’s cross into the left side of the net to give the Terps a 1-0 lead.
The Wolverines (4-11-4, 1-6-1) tied the match in 42nd minute when defender Suli Dainkeh and Michigan defender Lars Eckenrode headed a cross toward the top of the box. The ball bounced to open Wolverines midfielder Tyler Anderson, who struck it past goalkeeper Cody Niedermeier. Niedermeier pled for a foul on Eckenrode after he and Dainkeh fell in the box.
Entering Sunday, Maryland had scored after 14 of the 15 goals it surrendered and recorded the second most goals per game in the nation (2.47). It took less than two minutes for the Terps to end Michigan’s joy.
In the 44th minute, defender Chris Odoi-Atsem sprinted into the box, drawing two defenders and Michigan goalkeeper Evan Louro. The senior passed to forward DJ Reeves, who tapped the ball into the open net for his second career goal.
“Chris did all the work,” Reeves said. “It was a simple finish.”
Despite holding a lead, Cirovski was upset with his team’s energy and passing in the half, especially after his squad had a week off entering Sunday. He called upon his team to raise its intensity at halftime, yet the Wolverines killed Maryland’s momentum in the 51st minute. Michigan forward Francis Atuahene headed defender Rylee Woods’ cross into the net.
After a five-game shutout streak, the Terps have given up 10 goals in the past six contests.
Reeves said Maryland’s defensive game plan revolved around Atuahene, who entered Sunday with the most points on the Wolverines (18). The sophomore played further into the middle of the field than Cirovski expected, so 15 minutes into the contest, the veteran coach moved defender Dainkeh toward the middle, too. Yet Atuahene was left open on his eighth goal of the season.
“They just always play us tough,” Reeves said. “Every time Michigan plays us it’s like their game of the season. They were sitting in today, making it tough to get ball movement.”
Maryland picked up its intensity after the score but couldn’t finish on its eight shots in the half, including two looks that smacked the goalpost.
Cirovski again challenged his squad to raise its intensity for overtime, and in the 103rd minute, Campbell spun through two defenders before scoring his third goal of the season to keep the Terps in contention for their fifth consecutive conference tournament championship.
“We’re getting tested a little bit, but we’re showing a lot of resiliency and fight in us,” Campbell said. “We’re finding ways to win. We’re going to find some things to continue to work on. One game at a time and just continue to roll through this thing.”
