Maryland men’s soccer earns second draw of the season against Michigan, 2-2

Sasho Cirovski was looking for this game to signal the next chapter in his club’s season. He was looking for a change in the way his offense was playing. 

That came to fruition. The Terps put up 15 shots, a season high.

Despite the new life from the offense, the defense did not look as strong, as Maryland men’s soccer (1-2-2) settled for a draw with Michigan (1-2-3), 2-2.

“I’m very disappointed with the result today,” coach Sasho Cirovski said. “We did a number of things well enough to win this game but once again we gifted the opposition an easy goal and we put ourselves in a hole early in the game.” 

Michigan won the first chance of the game despite Maryland dominating possession, with freshman forward Alex Waggoner connecting on a glancing header that bounced just wide of the far post.

Not long after, Michigan got into the referee’s bookings with a yellow card being issued to sophomore defender Nolan Miller. Miller wrapped up sophomore forward Max Riley during a Maryland attack, leading to a near-miss from senior defender Bjarne Thiesen on a header from the following set piece.   

After a few minutes with little action from both sides, Maryland would find itself behind early — once again struggling in the first half.

In the 13th minute, senior midfielder Quin Rogers lifted a terrific pass over the outstretched leg of sophomore defender Luca Costabile. He reached junior forward and midfielder Michael Leon, who put the ball past senior goalkeeper Jamie Lowell into the bottom-left corner of the net. A hush fell over Ludwig Field as the Wolverines took an unexpected lead. 

Maryland’s first half issues would continue through the following eight minutes, with Michigan looking like the more threatening side. 

Freshman midfielder Leon Koehl would inject the first bit of energy into the Ludwig crowd with a missile from way out that went just wide of the goal. Riley would also threaten the net, with his own shot outside the box bouncing just wide as Maryland’s momentum built.

The Terps used that momentum, as in the 27th minute freshman midfielder Kimani Stewart-Baynes delivered a dangerous ball that took a deflection on its way across the box. The ball landed at the feet of fellow freshman midfielder Kenny Quist-Therson, who slotted the shot into the bottom-left corner for the game’s leveler and his first career goal.

Maryland continued to dominate possession through the ensuing eight minutes, looking to put their first half struggles to bed.

And that they would, with some great build up play from Costabile and senior forward Stefan Copetti on the left wing. After receiving the ball from Costabile, Copetti hooked up with freshman forward Luke Van Heukelum on a great through ball leading Van Heukelum into a dangerous scoring position. 

Van Heukelum would make the most of his position, taking a perfect touch around the keeper before burying the ball in the back of the net, earning Maryland a 2-1 lead and his first career goal. 

“I thought our young players that came in did a nice job today,” Cirovski said. “I think we just need to get our veterans to raise their level.”

With little action to end the half, the Terps happily took a 2-1 lead to the locker room, their first halftime lead of the season.

The second half began with a large chunk of up and down action without any major chances. Both sides lived in the counter-attack, but could not string together the final pass. 

Michigan would break this trend in the 62nd minute with a rocket from senior midfielder Bryce Blevins. The ball deflected off the hands of Lowell before reaching the upper-left corner. Ferch delivered the cross, which Blevins controlled before planting his foot and driving his laces through the ball. 

The Terps’ chances would nearly prove fruitful after they were able to fire multiple shots off in the box. But Michigan blocked every attempt, keeping Maryland out of the net once again.

In the 78th minute, Copetti pulled up after a run and was forced to sub due to injury. 

Even without its senior leader on the field, Maryland’s offense was able to threaten Michigan with multiple chances inside the opposing box. But the Terps were once again unable to capitalize.

Junior defender William Kulvik picked up his second yellow during a shoving match on the far sideline, getting him sent off in the 81st minute. This would force Maryland to play the last nine minutes of the game with 10 men. 

However, Maryland continued to press up the field rather than play for the tie. Riley forced three saves in the closing minutes of the game as Maryland refused to back down, still dominating possession down a man. 

Despite Maryland’s climactic push for a goal towards the end, the Terps were unable to take the win, having to settle for a draw.

“There is no easy game in the Big Ten,” senior midfielder Alex Nitzl said. “We make a mistake and we go down, but we can take away [from this game] that we have it in us to come back.”

The Terps will travel to State College to take on Penn State in their next match on Tuesday, Sept. 19.