Sturdy defense fuels Maryland men’s soccer’s 1-0 win over No. 25 Georgetown

In the 64th minute, Georgetown struggled to possess a corner kick by midfielder Matthew Van Horn. The ball made its way downfield and got in front of Maryland forward Sadam Masereka, who netted it, marking the first and only goal of the match.

Maryland men’s soccer (1-0-0) defeated No. 25 Georgetown (0-2-0) 1-0 in Washington, D.C., in their first game of the year, an effort fueled by Masereka’s goal and Maryland’s solid defense, led by goalkeeper Laurin Mack’s six saves.

The Terps’ first game of the year against Wake Forest was cancelled and ruled a no-contest due to lightning. Masereka also scored the first goal in that match.

The Hoyas lost their first game of the season to High Point last Thursday and gave up a goal early in the game, which prompted them to change their formation for the matchup against Maryland.

Early into the game, goalkeeper Laurin Mack kicked the ball over to the Hoyas’ goalkeeper Tenzing Manske, which led to a heading competition between both teams and the ball being kicked out of bounds, allowing the Terps to return it.

The first foul occurred in the 13th minute due to holding between Georgetown midfielder Diego Letayf and Maryland midfielder Albi Ndrenika, which led to Georgetown receiving the ball. 

Hoyas midfielder Zach Zengue was close to a goal but was stopped by Masereka, who peeled back. Masereka then got the ball to Stephane Njike, who received a penalty for tripping afterwards. 

Later, Njike got around midfielder Eric Howard and kicked the ball just short of the goal. The ball found its way to Luke van Heukelum, who took Maryland’s first shot on goal of the game, but was stopped by Manske. 

Early in the first half, Maryland struggled to find rhythm and kept the ball in its half.

The Terps began applying pressure in the 21st minute, though.

Manske barely held onto a shot from Ndrenika and later faced a tough shot from Masereka while outside the box, but was able to control the ball safely.

Howard saw an early run from Hoyas forward Mitchell Baker, but was too early on the kick to the goal. 

Aiden Godinho and Mateo Caride challenged, and Godinho got the worst of it with studs up high. 

In the 16th minute of the second half, Georgetown’s Mateo Ponce Ocampo kicked the ball to Jack Heaps, which led to Mack getting way over the line and blocking the attack before Heaps could get to it. 

Ponce Ocampo regained possession of the ball and was blocked by the sophomore goalkeeper once again.

Georgetown continued to get the ball into a dangerous spot for the Terps, but struggled to get pressure on the goal.

In the 64th minute, Ndrenika substituted Matias De Jesus, while Masereka substituted Caride.

Masereka scored the decisive goal of the game only 35 seconds later.

The Hoyas struggled to get the ball towards the goal from midfield until the 73rd minute, when Van Horn passed the ball to Zengue who looped it around to Ponce Ocampo. The midfielder went for the goal, but was stopped with a full stretch from Mack. 

Njike found Masereka on a counterattack, seemingly to notch another goal, but was stopped by a diving save from Hoyas midfielder Matthew Helfrich.

Georgetown had a late chance to finally break through the Terps’ backline.

With five seconds left in the game, Van Horn clipped it into Lampman at the backpost, who hit it across the face but was denied by Mack, sealing the Maryland victory.