New seasons often bring optimism and intrigue, especially when two premier programs face off.
That was the case when Maryland and No. 6 Wake Forest matched up at Spry Stadium to start the 2025 season.
But the excitement lasted for just 45 minutes.
Maryland held a 1-0 lead going into Thursday night’s halftime break. During the stoppage, isolated thunderstorms started popping up around the Winston-Salem area, culminating in over an hour long delay.
With the forecast showing little promise, the match was suspended and declared a no-contest just after 10:20 EST. Tonight’s outcome was frustrating for a Terps side that put together a clean display going forward.
Forward Sadam Masereka tormented the Demon Deacon backline with his speed down the right flank. The senior got in behind on several occasions, taking three of Maryland’s five shots on — the first of which became the game’s only goal.
LIU transfer Stephane Njike dribbled down the left flank, before finding Luca Costabile’s overlapping run near the edge of the 18-yard box. With his momentum going toward the byline, Costabile dished a pass in the opposite direction to midfielder Joseph Umberto Picotto.
The UMBC transfer lofted a cross toward the back post, where Masereka won a header over Wake Forest midfielder Vlad Walent. Masereka bounced his attempt across the face of goal, rolling into the bottom corner for Maryland’s 1-0 advantage.
Njike and Picotto were starting in place of Colin Griffith and Leon Koehl, respectively. Koehl and Griffith — Maryland’s two leading goal scorers from the 2024 season — were both unavailable due to injury.
Maryland’s backline — a unit that featured significant personnel turnover this offseason — held Wake Forest to just one clear-cut scoring opportunity.
Walent sent a cross field diagonal pass from the near flank to the far sideline in the 24th minute.
The Demon Deacons’ right back controlled Walent’s pass with space to run into. Senior midfielder Umar Basit was trailing the play, though he received the cut-back on the edge of the box.
Basit released the powerful attempt, which was at a savable height for sophomore goalkeeper Laurin Mack. The Maryland keeper caught the ball with a dive to his right, saving the Demon Deacons’ only shot on target.
Tonight’s no-contest declaration certainly stings more for the Terps, who had a plausible chance of starting their 2025 season with a top-10 road victory. Nevertheless, Maryland’s attacking success in the face of Koehl and Griffith’s absences are an overwhelming positive for this year’s Terps.
