Multiple wondergoals pull Maryland men’s soccer to 5-2 win over Long Island

Photo courtesy of Allison Mize/Maryland Terrapins

Maryland needed a hero in a 2-2 match to avoid overtime and a potential second NCAA tournament exit to Long Island in four years. Then Sadam Masereka lined up and hit a tremendous volley from well outside the box to rescue the Terps. Following an official review, the goal was confirmed and Masereka fell to his knees in celebration as Ludwig Field erupted.

“Sadam’s a special kid,” right back Alex Nitzl said. “I think his speed is something like you just can’t learn it and you also can’t defend it. He’s, I think, the fastest guy I’ve ever seen and it’s just a threat.” 

Maryland men’s soccer defeated Long Island, 5-2, in the NCAA tournament first round on Thursday. The Terps overcame a 2-1 deficit and avenged the previous 2021 loss to the Sharks.

“It had to happen that way,” Nitzl said. “We’ve been going about this whole year, talking about how this is our revenge season. That game three years ago was brutal. And now getting back to the NCAA tournament and facing a team we’ve played before … and now finally to get the win, it’s perfect.” 

Maryland scored three brilliant goals from outside the box and five goals total in its most impressive offensive display of the season. The Terps got off to a dream start when Nitzl guided a thundering strike into the back of the net in the fourth minute, the fifth-year senior’s first career goal in 67 games for Maryland.

“I told the team after the game that this was destined that we were going to find a way to win. We could not not come up with a victory when Alex Nitzl scored his first career goal,” coach Sasho Cirovski said. “He’s our unquestionable leader. He’s become Mr. Maryland soccer and for him to get that goal to give us that lift was wonderful.” 

But the Sharks scored right before the first half and three minutes into the second to grab a 2-1 lead.

Maryland was given a lifeline when Masereka was tripped in the box in the 67th minute and awarded a penalty. Leon Koehl stepped up to the spot and slid his shot just out of the goalie’s reach for his seventh goal of the season, all from penalties. It was the sophomore’s first start since suffering an injury against UCLA and he controlled the midfield with his passing and controlled demeanor. 

Masereka scored his wonder goal just a minute later. Then left back Luca Costabile put the game away when he drove toward the defense in the 74th minute and crushed a shot from outside the box with his left foot that flew into the top left corner. The junior didn’t score in his first two seasons at Maryland but has scored twice now in the Terps’ last six games.

Masereka completed his shining performance by dribbling past defenders in the 85th minute and passing to a wide-open Max Rogers, who calmly backheeled his shot into the goal.

Maryland entered the match on a four-game losing streak but had two weeks after its Big Ten tournament exit to rest and heal up for the postseason. In this contest, the Terps played more like the team that rode a 12-game unbeaten streak to a No. 2 national ranking earlier this season. 

Maryland dominated possession early and kept Long Island pinned into their own defensive end. The Terps attempted nine shots in the half but couldn’t convert several good chances to double the lead. 

Colin Griffith was aggressive on offense, attempting five shots. The junior nearly doubled Maryland’s lead in the 18th minute when he was given space to get off a clean shot in the box. But he lifted his strike well over the goal. 

The Terps’ defense came into the match having allowed 13 goals in the last four games but the backline kept the Sharks’ offensive in check early. Eventually Maryland’s mistake-prone defense showed again when the Sharks scored against the run of play in the 43rd minute on a free kick sequence. Goalie Laurin Mack saved the initial shot but a series of headers back and forth led to the bouncing ball dropping to Stephane Njike, who slammed his shot into the net to equalize. 

The Terps looked rattled after the goal and the situation got worse in the second half. Njike beat the Maryland defenders down the line in the 48th minute and crossed to Papa Sow for a tap-in goal to give the Sharks a surprise lead.

Long Island continued to threaten on the counter after the second goal while the Terps struggled to find a rhythm on offense. But the barrage of goals in the second half turned the match in Maryland’s favor.

The Terps now play No. 8 seeded Wake Forest in Winston-Salem, North Carolina on Sunday at 6 p.m.