Two top-five teams in the NCAA, plus a local rivalry, brought No. 2 Maryland men’s soccer to Ludwig Field to host No. 5 Georgetown.
The announced crowd of 6,110 was the Terps’ largest crowd since September 8, 2017, as the top-ranked matchup served as a litmus test for the Terps.
The Terps passed. They erased an early deficit to knock off the Hoyas 3-2, earning another top-ten resume-boosting win.
Maryland entered Monday night’s match undefeated in their first four games. The Hoyas were undefeated in their last four after drawing against North Carolina in their first game.
Rodrigo Neri’s goal in the 27th minute gave the Terps the 2-1 lead, which they never surrendered. This is his second game-winner in three games, continuing a trend in which four of the five game-winners have come from freshmen.
“When Rodrigo became available, that was my top priority,” head coach Sasho Cirovski said, signifying the importance of the Spaniard’s presence. “He’s got a great nose for the goal and he’s an ultra competitor.”
It was slow-moving through the first 15 minutes, but three goals in 11 minutes opened the floodgates.
Georgetown defender Tate Lampman opened the scoring, finding the back of the net in the 16th minute after the initial shot was saved by goalkeeper Laurin Mack.
Three minutes later, Albi Ndrenika provided the goal of the season for the Terps. Outside the penalty box, the midfielder fired a screamer past the outstretched arms of goalkeeper Charlie DeMarco.
In the 27th minute, a free kick taken by Ljubomir Popovic went off the post, but Neri was in the perfect spot, giving the Terps a 2-1 lead.
It was mostly quiet in the second half, with eight shots combined, compared to 11 in the first. But freshman Said El Eyssami provided a cushion. His goal proved to be the winner, as Eric Howard scored late for Georgetown, cutting the lead to 3-2 in the 85th minute.
“I’m always trying to find the goal,” El Eyssami said. He made his first appearance since getting injured. He did not let the layoff affect him, totaling 3 shots.
A key matchup to watch was how the Terps’ attack would fare against the Hoyas’ defense. The Hoyas conceded just 2 goals before Monday’s game and recorded clean sheets in their past three. DeMarco’s .875 save percentage was tenth in the country.
However, the Terps broke through, netting 3 goals, a number the Hoyas had yet to surrender in a game. The Terps also had 14 shots and six shots on goal. Entering Monday, the Hoyas allowed an average of 7.6 shots and 3.2 shots on goal per game.
Maryland’s defense also answered the call. Despite its early-season inconsistencies, the backline held Georgetown to 8 shots and 6 shots on goal.
The Hoyas have averaged 14.2 and 6.6, respectively, through their first five games. Star forward Mitchell Baker was held to just 1 shot. He has 5 goals on the season, which is fourth in the country.
There was some extracurricular activity after the game, as the two teams appeared to exchange words and shoves. However, nothing extreme seemed to have happened.
The Terps travel to Evanston, Illinois, to take on Northwestern on Friday to open Big Ten play.
