Strack's Take: Terps Get Much Needed Win Monday
9/22/2014 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
By: Ben Strack
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Despite a sparse and scattered crowd of 804, urgency flooded Ludwig Field Monday night, as the Terrapins topped the Dayton Flyers, 1-0.
A marquee matchup with No. 16 Michigan State last Friday left Maryland with its third shutout in six games, prompting a necessary turnaround from the team's early-season woes.
The Terps (2-3-2) dominated control in the first half, notching eight shots – four on goal – matching their 90-minute total against the Spartans a few days prior. The ultimate game-winner came on a penalty kick in the 31st minute by Mael Corboz after forward George Campbell beat his man and was tripped in the box. Corboz blasted one low and left past the outstretched Flyers keeper, putting to rest any thought of another uncharacteristic shutout.
“We're so used to scoring here at Ludwig and we haven't, so it was a relief,” said head coach Sasho Cirovski. “I think our aggressive play in general led to that goal because on both sides of the ball we were really dictating the tempo of the game.”
Rather than fall back with a lead, the Terps were relentless, assaulting the Dayton zone but struggling to score, as they have all season. A looping header in the first half met the right post, while a Corboz blast in the box sailed inches above the crossbar in the 68th minute. Campbell, who started at forward despite a nagging ankle injury, led the team with four shots, including a low boot just wide from a tough angle early in the second stanza. The dynamic freshman is still in search of his first collegiate goal.
“Myself mainly, I think that I'm definitely having a hard time hitting the back of the net,” said Campbell. “I'm getting in my head a little too much, but I think it's coming.”
Dayton (3-3-1) carried the physical play, receiving six yellow cards throughout the contest, but failed to put together any consistent attack, putting just three of their five shots on goal. The Terrapins tallied 16 shots – their highest total this season – but with a lone score – just their sixth in seven games – the goal drought continues to linger over the Big Ten's preseason favorite.
“It's still kind of frustrating,” Corboz said about the missed opportunities. “We had the chances tonight, we probably should have scored three or four more, so again, it's a step in the right direction.”
But the 22-year Maryland coach knows it will take some time to click and feels the team has played three solid halves in a row, going back to the final 45 minutes with the Spartans.
“It's a process,” said Cirovski. “We have young players, we're still establishing the relationships…but tonight a lot of progress was made and we've got to keep building on that now.”
Maryland continues its four-game home stand against conference foe Wisconsin Friday night, looking to get rolling after a much-needed victory.
Ben Strack, a senior journalism major at the University of Maryland, is a contributing writer to umterps.com.
