Maryland men’s soccer trailed in two games earlier this season with neither resulting in a victory.
After conceding to San Diego State in the first half of Monday’s contest, the Terps equalized eight minutes later and chased a game-winning goal into the second half. But each scoring chance was palmed away by Aztecs’ goalie Eddy Vargas or placed off target by Maryland attackers.
The Terps drew San Diego State, 1-1, at Ludwig Field. Maryland (2-1-3) has failed to string together a winning streak so far this year.
Maryland coach Sasho Cirovski rotated some of his normal starting 11 from the opening five games. Goalie Hudson Blatteis and center back Bjarne Thiesen started their first games of the campaign and right-back Brian St. Martin started for the first time since the Terps’ opening game against UMBC.
Forward Colin Griffith connected with one of the new starters in the 23rd minute for Maryland’s first and only goal of the contest. Midfielder Max Rogers faintly touched a pass from Sadam Masereka down the sideline for St. Martin to run onto. Despite being behind Aztecs’ (3-2-1) Nir Drori, the right-back used his pace to beat Drori to the ball.
[The Diamondback Sports Digest: Maryland football floundered and could only blame itself]
St. Martin lifted a cross to the back post as Griffith was unmarked. The Maryland forward volleyed St. Martin’s cross back across the goal to level the score at one.
“The first goal was a brilliant goal on a cross from Brian,” Cirovski said. “That’s the kind of stuff that I was hoping we would repeat another once or twice in the game.”
Griffith’s strike was one of just two Terps shots on frame in the opening half. Despite Cirovski rolling out his usual four forwards to start the match, Maryland’s shortcomings in front of goal continued.
Maryland missed six more chances in the second half in its venture to earn its first comeback attempt of the season.
Blatteis was beaten on the first shot he faced when San Diego State forward Austin Brummett headed in a cross that opened the scoring in the 15th minute. It marked the third time this year that the Terps conceded the first goal of the game. They drew with Virginia and lost to Georgetown in the previous two such matches.
[After blowing lead, Maryland men’s scores late free-kick goal to top Brown, 2-1]
Maryland forward Aidan Sheppela lofted a pass from his own half in the direction of Luke van Heukelum. The freshman ran between two Aztec defenders and faced Vargas one-on-one in the box, but fired his shot high over the crossbar in the 54th minute.
Rogers sent a curling effort on goal six minutes later that was saved by Vargas. Defender Mack DeVries glanced a header wide in the 68th minute and midfielder Kenny Quist-Therson had a close-range shot denied by Vargas.
“I thought we deserved more from our play,” Cirovski said. “Their goalkeeper made two incredible goal-saving plays. … We controlled the match, so disappointed with the result.”
Even with a majority of the scoring chances, the Terps put just five of their nine shots on frame — a season low. Impressive saves from Vargas denied Maryland its second consecutive win.
“It leaves that taste in your mouth. That’s just unfortunate at the end of the day, not getting the result that we wanted,” Matias de Jesus said. “But just got to learn from this and move on and get ready for conference play.”
The Terps’ high-quality scoring chances were an improvement from previous attacking performances. As Maryland starts Big Ten play against the conference’s best defensive team in Wisconsin on Friday, it must convert its chances at a higher rate.
