On a rainy night in College Park, both sides were searching for a spark play, looking to find a breakthrough.
The Terps found theirs with one minute remaining in the first half. Defender Nick Richardson ran into the box to receive Joe Suchecki’s pass before being tripped up by Old Dominion’s Jan Marpe.
Midfielder Malcolm Johnston stepped up to take the penalty kick. His shot found the bottom left corner of the net, giving the Terps a lead they would never surrender.
No. 8 Maryland men’s soccer defeated Old Dominion 1-0 night in a gritty, low scoring battle Friday night.
Outside of a blocked Griffin Dillon shot attempt and a Max Riley kick which was saved, the Terps didn’t generate much offensively in the early stages of the match.
Old Dominion started out aggressively on the offensive end, putting up two early shots that could’ve found the back of the net if it wasn’t for goalkeeper Jamie Lowell’s tough saves.
“I thought Jamie Lowell had one of his best games in a Maryland uniform,” coach Sasho Cirovski said.
Maryland struggled to connect its passes in the first half. Old Dominion’s aggressive gameplan closed off a lot of the Terps’ passing lanes.
Right before heading into the locker room, the Terps broke the scoreless tie with Johnston’s penalty kick. Richardson was fouled while running into the box, leading to Johnston scoring his fourth goal of the season — all on penalty kicks.
“I think I’ve, throughout my four years here, earned that trust [to take penalty kicks],” Johnston said. “[Cirovski] knows I have confidence at the spot … I’m grateful to have that privilege and looking to keep doing that throughout the season.”
Despite owning 60% of possessions in the first half, only 46% of Maryland’s offense came in the attacking half of the field. That was evident by its six shot attempts through the first 45 minutes.
Maryland came out defensive to start the second half, focused on keeping the Monarchs away from their goal. Old Dominion’s first second half shot attempt came in the 58th minute when Tristan Jenkins broke free. However, Lowell made another tough save with the ball flying right into his chest.
In the 63rd minute, Maryland nearly furthered its lead as Johnston found Suchecki close to the net. The redshirt sophomore took a touch and fired but the ball sailed over the goal to keep the score the same.
One player who stood out all night long for the Terps was Lowell. After only facing one shot on target against Ohio State, the junior made four tough saves in the first half alone. By the end of the night, Lowell recorded six saves.
“Either way, if it’s one save, or six saves, or two, you’re always locked in,” Lowell said. “I think just being ready, staying on your toes at all times, because if you have to make a save, you got to make a save.”
Maryland’s defense overall seems to be hitting its stride at just the right point in the season, registering its second straight clean sheet after not recording one through the first seven matches.
Two desperation shot attempts in the final 10 minutes by Old Dominion generated no results, as defender William Kulvik headed one shot attempt off the crossbar and out, while the next one was blocked.
In the 87th minute, forward Stefan Copetti had a breakaway but Old Dominion goalkeeper Michael Statham made an impressive save.
The clock hit zero with the Terps victorious for the fifth time in their last six matches.
Next up, Maryland embarks on a two game road trip against Rutgers and Northwestern, with Rutgers first up on Tuesday.
