Maryland men’s soccer takes on UCLA in Big Ten Semifinals

The Big Ten’s Co-Offensive Players of the Week will go head-to-head for a semifinal showdown on Wednesday night.

Maryland’s senior forward Sadam Masereka and UCLA’s redshirt sophomore forward Sergi Solans Ormo both closed out their regular seasons with hat tricks. 

No. 1 Maryland (12-0-3, 8-0-2 Big Ten) goes up against the Bruins (6-6-4, 5-3-2 Big Ten) in the semifinals of the Big Ten Men’s Soccer Tournament. The Terps are hosting the event – their 4-3 win over Michigan State last Friday secured Maryland’s first regular season conference title since 2022. 

The Spartans changed up their formation to 4-4-2 to isolate Maryland attackers – but couldn’t contain Masereka. 

The senior forward’s first goal came in the 22nd minute and was assisted by seniors Albi Ndrenika and Joseph Umberto Picotto. Masereka scored two more goals within the next ten minutes, assisted by Umberto Picotto and sophomore forward Stephane Njike. This was the Terp’s first hat-trick since 2017 – and first during the first half of a match since 2005.

Michigan State pushed back towards the end of the first half and halfway through the second, scoring two goals to make it a 3-2 game. 

Njike answered. He recorded five out of eight of Maryland’s second half shots, drilling in his seventh goal of the season on his fifth shot to extend Maryland’s lead. The sophomore was assisted by Masereka and Umberto Picotto – Picotto’s fourth assist of the game. 

Michigan State found a late goal to make it a one-point match with three minutes to go, but the Terps were able to hold them.

UCLA is coming off of a 4-2 victory against No. 15 Washington, earning them a spot in the Big Ten Tournament. 

Solans Ormo leads not only the Bruins in points and goals, but also ranks second in the Big Ten in both categories with 12 goals and 28 points. The redshirt sophomore recorded his second hat trick of the season against Washington – he has eight goals and two assists in his last three matches.

When the Terps and Bruins last met on Oct. 3, the match ended in a scoreless draw.

Maryland led UCLA in shots – six-to-one – with one on goal in the first half. The Bruins continuously found a way to regain possession of the ball until the Terps became more aggressive with their strikes. Maryland had a couple of solid scoring opportunities but were unable to convert. 

Solans Ormo almost found the back of the net early into the second half but was stopped by defenders Lasse Kelp and Tristan Rose, who kept UCLA scoreless. 

The Terps applied pressure in the 76th minute, recording three shots within 30 seconds by senior Luca Costabile, freshman Mateo Caride, and Masereka. 

UCLA received a free kick with four minutes left to go, but sophomore goalkeeper Laurin Mack launched himself in front of the ball to keep the match scoreless. 

Kickoff for the Terps is at 7 p.m. against the Bruins, following the first semifinal match between No. 16 Michigan (ranked 3rd in Big Ten) and No. 23 Washington (ranked 2nd in Big Ten).