Strack's Take: Terps Fall Short vs. Georgetown
9/30/2014 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - It wasn't the anguish after Georgetown's game-winning penalty kick broke a 4-4 tie nearly two years ago in the College Cup semifinal that made Tuesday's showdown important. Nor was it the raucous Ludwig crowd, because the 2,171 in attendance was not a factor.
It was rather Maryland looking to extend a two-game win streak during this seesaw early-season stretch that deemed the matchup especially significant. But they were halted, as the Hoyas edged the Terps, 1-0.
Junior forward Brandon Allen's goal in the78th minute was the lone highlight for both sides, a score that perfectly exhibited the skills of the former Soccer America Freshman of the Year and First Team All-Big East selection.
Allen passed to teammate Bakie Goodman along the left sideline and the midfielder found space, crossing to forward Alex Muyl at the top of the box who sent it back to a sprinting Allen on the right side. Georgetown's leading-scorer booted it home, beating the diving goalkeeper Zack Steffen on the near post.
“I thought the defense played well today,” said the Maryland keeper. “I think on the goal we obviously should have done better holding them in on that side and not letting them out.”
The odd man rush that produced the game's only goal was “inexcusable” according to Maryland head coach Sasho Cirovski.
“We went toe-to-toe with them. I thought it was a fairly even game and then on one counter the false leap and it's a fast break and that shouldn't happen,” he said. “We have too much quality, too much experience and at some point our guys are going to have to raise the level and show that they understand what it means to put on the Maryland jersey.”
The Terps (3-4-2) managed just seven shots, following a 16-shot performance against Wisconsin last Friday. A Mael Corboz blast in the 41st minute was handled by Hoya goalie Tomas Gomez, while a Carbajal header off a cross in the 74th minute was gobbled up by the same man who needed to make just two saves on the night.
Georgetown (6-1-3) had eight shots, only two on net, but that proved enough.
Despite strides forward in practice with the attack, a frustrated Cirovski said the improved cohesiveness of the front line simply hasn't translated to games.
Ben Strack, a senior journalism major at the University of Maryland, is a contributing writer to umterps.com.
