By: Johnny Moseman
Coming off a 1-1 draw against No. 3 Indiana last Friday, the No. 4 ranked University of Maryland men’s soccer team needed another two overtimes to take down Rutgers Tuesday night in Piscataway, N.J. with a score of 2-1.
Junior midfielder Jake Rozhansky provided the late game heroics when he scored the game-winning goal in the 104th minute. This goal came after a save by Rutgers goalie David Greczek landed right at Rozhansky’s feet at the doorstep of the goal.
This game was all Maryland early on as they were outshooting Rutgers 6-0 at a point in the first half. The first half ended with the Terps leading the shot count 8-1. Rutgers struggled to hold possession all throughout the game, leading to the Terps winning the shot count battle, 22-2.
Gordon Wild scored off a penalty kick in the 6th minute to start things off for Maryland. This was Wild’s Big Ten-leading 6th goal of the season. Wild is trying to repeat as national leader in goals scored, where he is currently sitting 4th in that category so far this season.
Before tonight, Rutgers had not scored a goal all season but that changed when Maryland midfielder Amar Sejdic misplayed an attempt at clearing the ball in the 27th minute. This then set up Rutgers’ Dante Perez for the Scarlet Knight’s first goal of the season. The goal seemed to wake up Rutgers for little bit as they were a lot more aggressive for the remainder of the first half. They also held onto the ball better then they had been before the goal.
The second half was played at a much slower pace with both teams only getting one combined shot off in the first fifteen minutes of the half. Maryland had two great chances on goal coming within five seconds in the 67th minute when Rozhansky chipped the ball over the Greczek. Luckily for Rutgers, a defender volleyed the ball away right before it went in the goal. That ball landed right by George Campbell who also had his shot kicked away by another Rutgers’ defender.
Rutgers’ senior goalkeeper Greczek had a career day with 10 saves on 12 shots on goal. He was the main reason Rutgers was able to stay competitive in this game for over 100 minutes. His best save of the night came against an Eryk Williamson shot in the 63rd minute. Williamson put the ball perfectly in the top right corner but Greczek got a hand on it and it deflected off the cross bar.
Rutgers (0-5, 0-2 Big Ten) will take on Ohio State in Columbus this Sunday for their next contest, while the Terps (4-0-2, 1-0-1 Big Ten) are in action next this Sunday when they take on rival Penn State at Ludwig Field.
