No. 1 Maryland men’s soccer holds off Michigan State 4-3, secures regular season Big Ten Title

Photo courtesy of Maryland athletics

Maryland men’s soccer made history on Friday night, securing the Big Ten Conference Title, completing its regular season unbeaten, and recording a hat trick.

The unbeaten season was the program’s first since 2016 and the first regular season Big Ten conference title since 2022. Senior forward Sadam Masereka’s trio of goals marked the Terps first hat trick since Eryk Williamson in 2017.

No. 1 Maryland (12-0-3, 8-0-2 Big Ten) defeated Michigan State (5-8-3, 2-5-3 Big Ten) at DeMartin Soccer Stadium in East Lansing, Mich., for its final match of the regular season. 

Maryland’s offense was relentless throughout the first half, outshooting the Spartans 9-3 – with five on goal. Masereka was responsible for six of the Terp’s shots, converting three to goals. He scored all three within 15 minutes of one another, with senior midfielder Joseph Umberto Picotto picking up all three assists. 

“I didn’t score on the first chance I had,” Masereka said. “But I knew I’d have more chances.”

Michigan State began the match with a 4-4-2 formation to isolate Maryland’s attackers, but it was no match for Masereka. 

His first goal, which came in the 22nd minute, started with a pass from senior midfielder Albi Ndrenika. Ndrenika scored the only goal last Friday against Washington and leads the Terps in assists with eight after tonight. The midfielder sent the ball over to Umberto Picotto, who found a wide open Masereka on the far left of the goalpost, and the senior converted. 

In the 26th minute sophomore forward Stephane Njike tapped the ball past a Spartan defender right to Picotto, who fought off two defenders and went for the goal. Redshirt senior goalkeeper Zac Kelly saved Picotto’s shot right in front of the net, but the loose ball landed right in front of Masereka, who cleaned it up, extending the Terps’ lead to 2-0. 

“We’re just working together as a unit,” Masereka said. 

Eight minutes later the offensive trio did it once again, making it a 3-0 game. 

Junior midfielder Miles Merritt fought back with less than one minute in the first half. After putting one over the goalpost in the opening minute of the half,  Merritt redeemed himself in the closing minute, driving one past sophomore goalkeeper Laurin Mack to put Michigan State on the board. 

The Spartans and Terps defenses refused to back down with a combined total of 26 fouls. Michigan State received three yellow cards while Maryland received two. 

Michigan State applied more pressure in the 75th minute. After a chaotic scramble in front of Maryland’s goalpost, redshirt senior defender Josh Adam found the back of the net, bringing the Spartans within one.

Prior to the match, Masereka and Njike were tied for lead-scorer both having six. After Masereka took the lead with his three goals, Njike wanted one for his own. 

He recorded five of Maryland’s eight shots in the second half – the fifth one got through.

Njike drilled in his seventh goal of the season in the 82nd minute on a long pass from the other side of the goalpost from Masereka. 

With three minutes left to go, Michigan State turned up the heat. Sophomore forward Oscar Huerta broke through Maryland’s defense, making it a one-point match.

The Terps were able to hold the Spartans for the remainder of the match, extending their six consecutive victory streak.

Maryland will now return home to Ludwig Field to host the Big Ten Men’s Soccer Tournament on Wednesday night at 7 p.m. against UCLA. The two teams met earlier in the season and tied 0-0.  

“Come and support us,” Masereka said. “We’ve got this!”