Maryland men’s soccer forward Sadam Masereka wheeled away in celebration. He pointed to the sky and ran to the corner flag while Ludwig Field’s lights flickered around him. The Crew, the team’s fan group, waved scarves behind the goal as the Terps bench surrounded Masereka to celebrate.

The junior’s game-winning tally in the 82nd minute against Michigan State was his first career goal in a Maryland kit.

The score was momentous for Masereka. It was the next step on a collegiate journey that started at Lindsey Wilson — a nine-time NAIA national champion — and has resulted in a spot on one of the nation’s premiere programs.

“It is the best moment I’ve ever experienced in college soccer so far,” Masereka said. “I’m really glad that I had to make it count.”

Masereka was a standout for the Blue Raiders. He scored 22 goals and recorded seven assists over two campaigns, earning first team All-Mid-South Conference honors twice and a 2023 United Soccer Coaches first team All-American nomination.

But the attacker left in the offseason. He wasn’t always destined for College Park.

[Maryland men’s soccer’s clutch comeback vaulted it back to top of Big Ten]

Masereka said many coaches reached out to him when he entered the transfer portal and received his NCAA eligibility. Maryland pursued Masereka after Owen Presthus and Lukas Michelbrink, two signees in the 2024 class, decided not to join the Terps.

Coach Sasho Cirovski said he and his coaching staff held multiple Zoom calls with Masereka, but it took a while for Masereka to envision himself with the Terps. That changed when Masereka visited Maryland for the first time.

Masereka was in the Washington, D.C., area to renew his passport while the Terps were amid a summer preseason camp. He was still deciding on his next team and asked if he could visit Maryland.

Cirovski instantly welcomed Masereka to College Park. Masereka signed with the Terps shortly after, in time for the 2024 season.

“We sort of got lucky,” Cirovski said. “He came to campus and I think that first impression for him and for us was awesome. I think that sold everybody.”

Cirovski inserted Masereka into the starting lineup. He’s started all of Maryland’s matches this season. His first goal didn’t come until his most recent outing against the Spartans.

The transition from NAIA to the NCAA has been difficult, Masereka said.

[Late scores propel No. 12 Maryland men’s soccer past Michigan State, 2-1]

The talent of teams can differ each game in the NAIA — some programs are often compared to NCAA Division II. Athletics funding also differs, as NCAA schools spend an average of 60 percent more than NAIA schools.

Masereka’s time at Lindsey Wilson was spent on Walter S. Reuling Stadium, which has 6,000 less seats than Masereka’s new home at Ludwig Field. Maryland has a dedicated practice facility and fields at the Varsity Team House used for training alongside Ludwig.

The physicality of NCAA Division I play has been a step up for Masereka to handle.

Masereka is one of the fastest players at Maryland. He primarily plays in wider attacking positions and blazes down the sidelines. Facing stronger full backs has stopped him from replicating his goal-scoring figures from the last two seasons.

But Masereka is putting himself in dangerous attacking positions as the season progresses. He recorded a campaign-high three shots against Indiana and matched that figure when he won Maryland its fourth Big Ten match against Michigan State.

The increase in division was difficult, but Masereka’s beginning to contribute for the Terps, even if he didn’t envision himself in College Park.

“I heard about [Maryland] when I first got here,” Masereka said. “It’s a lot of success. I used to hear about it, but I never expected I would be here.”