COLLEGE PARK, Md. - “Goooaaaaalllll,” exclaimed Carlos Osorio, the Spanish public address announcer, invited to provide some cultural flair for Hispanic Heritage Night. “Michael Sauers! Michael Sauers! Michael Sauers!” He would do the iconic Latin chant once more as the Terrapins eased to a 2-0 win over Wisconsin Friday night, claiming their first Big Ten victory of the season.
The first half yielded few legitimate chances as much of the scrum was fought in the midfield. Eric Carbajal, Maryland's lone Latino player got the start, putting the only shot on goal in the first 45 minutes off a corner kick.
But Carbajal would follow up the missed opportunity in the 53rd minute, setting up Sauers in the box for the eventual game-winner. After Jeroen Meefout centered a ball from the right side, Carbajal extended his foot, changing its direction to Sauers who lofted it over the Wisconsin keeper. It was the first collegiate assist for the freshman pair.
“Eric was making a good run and I was covering behind him. It got past Eric, got the ball, took the touch and finished,” said Sauers. “I think that really gave us some confidence.”
Six minutes later, defender Mikey Ambrose skied a corner kick to a leaping Dan Metzger who headed it home for an insurance goal. It was the senior captain's second score of the season and gave the 4,165 in attendance another chance to hear Osorio's enchanting goal call.
“I thought in the second half we came out with a lot more malice in our attack…we really pushed the game and were appropriately awarded with two very nice goals,” said head coach Sasho Cirovski. “I still think the best is yet to come with our attack and it's a work in progress but we're getting better.”
The Terps (3-3-2) controlled play the entire way, outshooting the Badgers (1-5-1), 14-4. It was Maryland's first multi-goal game since their win over Coastal Carolina on Sept. 1 as well as their second consecutive shutout.
Cirovski praised preseason All-American Metzger as a key to Maryland's defensive success, labeling him the “best defensive midfielder in the country.” His efforts on both ends of the field have helped the Terps regain some swagger that they look to carry into next week.
“We've been talking about making a statement finally in the Big Ten and I think tonight we did,” said Metzger. “It's just a lot of good momentum building up.”
Momentum will be important as they go up against the No. 11 Georgetown Hoyas Tuesday night at Ludwig Field, an opponent they are by no means taking lightly.
“By a lot of people's standards they may be the top team in the country right now,” said Cirovski, “It will be a good measuring stick for us to see exactly how much we've grown in the early part of the season.”
Ben Strack, a senior journalism major at the University of Maryland, is a contributing writer to umterps.com.
