When the full-time whistle blew to confirm No. 12 Maryland men’s soccer’s comeback victory over Michigan State, Jace Clark, Alex Nitzl and Laurin Mack shared a hug at midfield. Leon Koehl and Colin Griffith ran to the supporters behind the goal with their fists raised in the air.
The Terps returned to the summit of the Big Ten standings with the 2-1 victory Saturday. They earned three valuable points against one of their main challengers to the conference title.
Maryland trailed for the first time in Big Ten play during the contest, but a heightened defensive press that generated scoring opportunities fueled a two-goal Maryland turnaround in the final 20 minutes.
“We had 20 to 30 minutes to get it right,” coach Sasho Cirovski said. “We found a way to get some goals, and this is starting to look like a Maryland team again with the way that we moved the ball and the way that we’re starting to press the second half.”
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The Terps placed one shot on target in the opening 45 minutes of the game. Griffith directed a header goalward that was saved by Michigan State goalie Zac Kelly.
After Spartans’ defender Will Eby guided a header into the net to give Michigan State the lead, Maryland increased its attack in the later stages of the match.
The Terps’ defensive pressure largely kept the ball in their possession. Maryland won the ball back on multiple occasions and wasted no time getting forward into the attacking third as it searched for an equalizer.
Michigan State’s Jeremy Sharp had possession at midfield in the 71st minute. Midfielder Albi Ndrenika closed him down quickly. Sharp passed to Jack Guggemos and he went forward to Richie Ludwig, but Sadam Masereka and Chris Steinleitner caused a misplaced pass. The Terps won it back with a Luca Costabile tackle.
Maryland quickly attacked. Ndrenika received a ball down the left-hand sideline and fed Griffith at the top of the box. The forward opened up his hips and placed a shot past Kelly in goal to tie the score at one.
“Our defensive pressure was a lot better,” Cirovski said. “We hurried the game a lot more… We put ourselves in pretty good positions to be dangerous throughout the [second] half.”
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The Terps turned their high press into a goal in less than a minute to even the score. They did it again 10 minutes later to net the game-winning tally.
Michigan State passed the ball along its back line to switch the field. Spartans midfielder Cristiano Bruletti made himself available in the middle of the pitch. Eby sent a ball Bruletti’s way, but the midfielder was confronted by Koehl and his attempted ball forward failed.
Max Rogers intercepted the ball and one-touched a pass to Ndrenika. The midfielder did the same to hit Rogers in stride down the right side. Rogers dribbled closer to the box and fired a low cross toward the back post. Masereka then scored his first career Maryland, giving the Terps a 2-1 lead.
Maryland’s defensive aggressiveness spurred its attack in the Terps’ fourth conference win and first comeback victory of the season.
“It was just a massive result,” Rogers said. “Almost like a six-point turnaround really, because we took three points off them and gave us three points. Just huge.”
