UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Sophomore George Campbell racked up a hat trick as the No. 25 Maryland men's soccer team rallied from two goals down to defeat Penn State, 4-3, Friday night in Big Ten Conference action.
The Terps (6-3-3, 2-1-2 B1G) scored three unanswered goals, including two in the first half, to tie the game at the break. The win was head coach Sasho Cirovski's 350th at the helm of the storied Maryland men's soccer program.
After surrendering two Penn State (5-4-2, 2-2-1 B1G) goals in the first 30 minutes of play, Tsubasa Endoh put the Terps on the board at 32:42. The senior – who scored his first goal of the year in a 2-0 win against Villanova on Monday – found the bottom right corner of the goal for a 1-0 Maryland lead. Sebastian Elney picked up the assist on the play.
Campbell evened the score with a wild, last second goal in the 45th minute. Jorge Calix's corner kick found the sophomore for the score in the final seconds of the stanza.
Campbell kept it going in the second half, notching goals number two and three in the 56th and 59th minute. The forward's 56th minute score came off a shot at the top of the 18 and his 59th minute tally found the top left corner for a 4-2 Terrapin lead.
Maryland yielded one final Penn State goal in the 64th minute and held on for the big road win.
Despite giving up a season-high three goals, Cody Niedermeier registered seven saves on the night at goalkeeper.
"We were very passive to begin the game and Penn State came out on fire,” Cirovski said. “George's goal in the final two seconds of the first half was really the game-changer. He was certainly the man of the match and gave us an incredible spark off the bench. This is a character-building, transformative win for a young team who's had great moments but dug a big hole and found the resiliency and commitment to come back. I couldn't be more proud of them and for this to be a milestone win in my career makes it just extra special.”
Maryland welcomes Indiana next Friday at 7:30 p.m. at Ludwig Field.