No. 12 Maryland men’s soccer draws 1-1 against Penn State

Photo courtesy of Riley Rumbley/Maryland Terrapins

The Terps had a chance to break the deadlock in a 1-1 match with 19 seconds remaining and Max Rogers standing over the ball, ready to deliver another free kick. Jace Clark won the header but goalie Andrew Cooke made a diving save, his fifth stop of the night, to secure a draw.

No. 12 Maryland men’s soccer drew 1-1 with Penn State (4-5-2, 1-2-2 Big Ten) on a cold rainy Tuesday night in College Park. The Terps attempted 19 shots but only scored once against a resilient Nittany Lions defense.  

This game has become a heated affair in recent years, given the proximity of the two schools and the tough battles the Nittany Lions have given the Terps recently. Maryland beat Penn State seven straight times from 2006 to 2018 but the Terps haven’t won since, suffering four losses and three draws. 

“Probably the only team I haven’t won against is them,” fifth-year senior Alex Nitz said. “What they are really good at is their game. They don’t need the ball. They don’t need to be engaged in the game. They can sit and they can create chances out of nothing.”

Rogers’ crossing, especially on set deliveries, has been a weapon for Maryland (5-1-4, 3-0-1) this season. He has assisted five goals in 2024, tied for second-most in the Big Ten. But the grad student couldn’t deliver the perfect ball in this match to capitalize on eight Terp corners. 

Freshman Aidan Sheppela appeared as a sub and delivered the best performance of his young career. He showed off his long-range passing, assisting Colin Griffith’s goal with a lofted ball to switch the field.

“I challenged Aiden to be a little bit more aggressive, to want the ball more, and to use his set of skills,” coach Sasho Cirovski said. “I think at times he’s been a bit shy on the ball, and I wanted him to be more positive and he did that today.” 

Maryland found it difficult early to break down Penn State’s compact defense. The Terps attempted nine first-half shots but only two strikes were on target. Griffith fired a shot in the 22nd minute that struck the post.

Sheppela delivered a brilliant curving cross in the 43rd minute to fellow freshman Jameson Michel, who chested the ball right to his feet. Michel lined up a shot but fired it directly at Cooke, who held his ground and stayed big to make the save.

The Nittany Lions’ best chance of the first came when Michael Hewes tried to slip a close-range shot past Laurin Mack, who made a strong save. Mack has been a steady presence for Maryland this season in goal. The freshman has looked like a veteran, saving 23 shots while only allowing seven goals.

The match opened up in the second half with end-to-end action and breakaways for both sides. Hews again broke through the Terps’ defense in the 52nd minute and nearly beat Mack, bouncing his shot off the post with Mack able to scoop up the rebound. 

The momentum shifted quickly when Griffith received the ball from Sheppela on a breakaway four minutes later. Griffith curved his shot into the right corner and past the goalie’s outstretched arms for a goal. The forward continued his hot run of form, scoring now in four of his last five games.

“I’m just taking more quality shots, focusing a little more when I’m shooting,” Griffith said. “I was getting in good spaces, but I wasn’t really striking the ball with enough quality. So now I’m striking it a little better and the goals are coming.” 

Maryland scored early and hung on with strong defensive efforts in its first three Big Ten games. The Terps’ goal came later in the second half this time, but Maryland again looked set to sit back and lock down the match with its strong defense after gaining the advantage. 

But Penn State answered with a moment of magic. Caden Grabfelder launched a thundering free kick strike into the left corner of the net to level the match.

The emotions of the rivalry match sparked after Matias de Jesus suffered a rough challenge from a Nittany Lion defender as a cross was played to him in the box. The referee ignored Maryland’s penalty shouts, leaving the Terps visibly frustrated. 

Both sides had opportunities to win the game late but couldn’t ripple the back of the net. Maryland nearly scored on two different set piece chances where Clark directed a header toward the goal but Cooke saved both. Grabfelder found space in the box in the 87th minute, but his shot skipped wide right. 

Maryland continues Big Ten play on Saturday when the Terps face Michigan State at Ludwig Field.