Maryland men’s soccer had the Big Ten title in its grasp.
The Terps entered the final stretch of the regular season needing to stave off Michigan and Rutgers, two teams near the bottom of the conference standings. They lost both contests, failing to claim a share of the regular season championship.
Maryland only scored once across the two games and appeared to lose its high-scoring attack that helped propel itself to the top of the conference. While its losing streak continued in the season finale Sunday against Ohio State, the Terps’ offensive spark returned in the second half.
They’ll need that to continue into the Big Ten tournament, which starts Thursday.
“I thought we maybe could have shown a little bit more quality in our chances to score,” Brian Rowland, the acting head coach Sunday for a suspended Sasho Cirovski, said. “We have a very good team, and I think we just have to get back to some of the things that helped us win early on in the year.”
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The Terps put fewer shots on goal against the Buckeyes than they did against the Scarlet Knights or the Wolverines, but their attempts were better chances to score. They came after a lackluster first half.
Maryland failed to notch a shot in the opening 45 minutes as Ohio State eased into a two-goal lead. Its first effort on frame came from a set piece, something the Terps often used to their advantage earlier in the year.
Forward Max Rogers delivered an arching cross into the box — a dangerous area in front of Buckeyes’ goalkeeper Patrick McLaughlin. The Ohio State shot-stopper had to punch the ball away from his goal, but he failed to eliminate the Maryland opportunity.
Defender Luca Costabile settled the ball from the air and rolled a low shot past McLaughlin. The junior’s strike was Maryland’s first goal scored off a set piece since its win over George Mason on Oct. 15.
“We had the chances, we dominated in the second half,” Costabile said. “But just couldn’t finish it off.”
Midfielder Albi Ndrenika and forward Colin Griffith, who is tied for the team lead in goals, each had a stab at tying the game minutes after Costabile’s first career tally.
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Costabile reached a ball played down the left sideline by Bjarne Thiesen. He played a pass back to Ndrenika, who advanced into the penalty area at the top of the box. The junior took a touch, which allowed the Buckeyes defenders to close the space around him.
Ndrenika’s shot was blocked by Ohio State defender Nathan Demian, who also got in the way of Griffith’s follow-up chance.
Freshman defender Jace Clark played a pass down the right sideline to Rogers. The graduate student controlled the ball just before it went over the line, pulling it back for Griffith inside the area. But the junior’s shot never reached McLaughlin in net as it was blocked by Demian.
Maryland ended the contest with just five shots and two attempts on target, but it created quality chances in its limited attempts. The Terps’ attack, which struggled at the end of the campaign, will be vital for a deep run in the Big Ten tournament.
“The hardest part of the game is still scoring the goals,” Rogers said. “If we keep putting ourselves in positions to score, eventually they’ll start flowing again.”
