No. 1 Maryland men’s soccer is the Big Ten regular-season champion. 

Senior forward Sadam Masereka had a night to remember on Friday, scoring a natural hat trick with Maryland’s first three goals. Maskereka’s three first-half goals gave Maryland its first hat trick since 2017 and helped the Terps cap off an undefeated regular season on Friday, dominating the Spartans, 4-3. 

Maryland is just one of two unbeaten teams left in Division I as it finishes the regular season 12-0-3 record, their best since 2016. 

The Terps have dominated in conference play with a 8-0-2 mark. 

On the other hand, the Spartans came in with a  5-7-3 record and were in search of their first win since September, as they have gone 0-3-3 in October. 

Friday, looked to be headed to a similar result. But the Spartans made things interesting. 

The Terps have dominated possession throughout the season. But to start this one, Michigan State controlled the ball early in the first half. Once the Terps found their footing, the Spartans committed a foul, and Saddam Masereka was awarded the first shot of the game. 

Maryland’s goalkeeper, Laurin Mack, faced his first test in the tenth minute as it was a shot from Jacob Cromer from just outside the box, but Mack swallowed it up. 

In the 22nd minute, the Terps struck first. After a beautiful through ball from senior midfielder Joseph Umberto Picotto, Masereka grounded one past Zac Kelly for the game’s first goal. 

Just three minutes later, Masereka put another one in the back of the net. Umberto Picotto had the first shot, and Kelly initially made the save, but the rebound landed on the foot of Masereka who gave the Terps a two-goal lead. 

Maryland’s offense kept pouring it on. With just 12 minutes left in the first half, Masereka scored a hat trick. After a scrum in front of the net, the ball bounced onto the left foot of Masereka, who netted another one. It was not only his third of the game, but his ninth of the season. 

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

Michigan State would not go down without a fight, though. Just before the half ended, Miles St. Merritt booted one from way out to the top right corner past Mack to give the Spartans some life before the half ended. 

The Spartans looked to continue the momentum into the second half, but the Terps’ backline shut them down. Senior Lasse Kelp made key plays to fend off the Spartans and keep the game out of reach.  This held true for most of the second half. 

However, in the 75th minute, Josh Adam scored his first goal of the season for Michigan State. It was a mess in front of the net and Adam had the last touch over the head of Mack. 

In the 82nd minute, Sophomore forward Stephane Njike scored the dagger. After a shot from Masereka, Kelly made the save, but Njike was in the right place at the right time to softly touch it into the back of the net. That was exactly the right amount of insurance for the Terps.

Four minutes later, Michigan State’s Oscar Huerta netted the third goal for the Spartans, giving them some life. Njike’s goal was enough for Maryland to secure the win, though. 

“We came in with the tactic of winning that game,” Masereka said. “We’re just working together as a unit.”