Maryland men’s soccer’s Max Rogers whipped in a corner kick. Long Island headed the initial ball in defense, but only as far away as Sadam Masereka.
The forward let the ball bounce. He backpedaled, and from about 25 yards away, unleashed a shot on goal. The ball flew through a crowd of players in the box and didn’t stop until it hit the net.
The Terps’ second of three goals in a seven-minute span saved their season. Maryland fired five strikes past the Sharks in a 5-2 win in the first round of the NCAA tournament at Ludwig Field on Thursday.
“The second half, we went down a goal, but that was a test we had to pass,” Cirovski said. “We scored a couple of brilliant goals after that. Sadam’s great volley, Luca’s brilliant shot, and then obviously the combination with Max finishing off Sadam’s play.”
The Terps scored four straight goals for just the second time this season to avenge a loss they suffered to Long Island in the 2021 national tournament. Maryland advanced to the second round for the first time since 2022 with the win in its return to the national tournament. It will travel to play No. 8-seed Wake Forest on Sunday at 6:00 p.m.
The Terps resorted to their preferred starting lineup for the first time since October. Midfielder Leon Koehl returned to the midfield alongside Albi Ndrenika and Chris Steinleitner, pushing Alex Nitzl back to right back.
[Maryland men’s soccer to host Long Island in first round of NCAA tournament]
Forward Colin Griffith dribbled into the box and shot shortly into the fourth minute. His effort was blocked and the ball bounced to the top of the box. Nitzl, who ventured forward from his fullback, planted his left foot in preparation to strike.
Nitzl swung his right foot forward, hitting the ball on a half volley. Long Island goalie Eoin Gawronski, the Northeast Conference Goalkeeper of the Year, didn’t move — Nitzl scored his first career goal in his 70th appearance to open the scoring.
“I’ve been waiting for this,” Nitzl said. “I knew today was the last day I could score at home, so if there’s a chance I might as well take it. The boys know I have it in the bag.”
Maryland’s struggles to convert after Nitzl’s goal proved costly as the Sharks evened the score right before halftime. After Long Island sent a dangerous free kick into the box, two failed clearances led to a Stephane Njike volley off of the ground and into the net in the 43rd minute.
Long Island took a lead four minutes later as Njike sent a low cross across the face of the goal. Forward Papa Sow stood along at the back post, tapping in the Sharks’ go-ahead tally two minutes after the half.
Maryland’s offense exploded after Sow’s score, generating its most dangerous attacks down the sidelines.
[Maryland men’s soccer’s disastrous defense led to quick Big Ten tournament exit]
Masereka cut into the box, keeping the ball close to his feet. Long Island defender Saidou Diallo stuck a foot in, tripping the Terps’ forward inside the box. Koehl sat the ball down on the spot and placed a low shot past the outstretched arm of Gawronski. The sophomore’s seventh goal, all from 12 yards out, leveled the score.
Then, defender Luca Costabile ventured forward with space in front of him down the left. A defender didn’t close him down as the junior netted his second career tally, the third Maryland score from outside the penalty area.
Costabile’s strike beat Gawronski at the near post after Masereka’s stunning volley. Rogers backheeled in a fifth goal for the Terps in the 85th minute to match their highest-scoring output of the year. Masereka finished with a goal and an assist after winning the penalty Koehl converted.
“We’ve seen moments for him this year where he makes a huge difference with his speed and with his quality,” Cirovski said. “To score that banger of a goal, I think it was something special.”
Maryland — down a goal with less than 25 minutes remaining — scored four unanswered goals to earn its first victory in over a month. As it seemed another defense lapse would lead to another early tournament exit, the Terps’ attack rescued their national championship aspirations.
“We’ve been on our revenge tour,” Nitzl said. “And now getting back in the NCAA tournament and facing a team we’ve played before … to get the win, it’s perfect, because the revenge season continues.”
