COLLEGE PARK, Md. — Redshirt junior goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair tallied five saves as the Maryland men's soccer team (4-4-2, 2-2 B1G) fell to No. 13 Michigan State, 2-0, on Friday.
After allowing an early goal, St. Clair kept the Terps close through the evening. But, an 80th-minute goal while the Terps played with 10 men distanced the Spartans down the stretch.
"Michigan State is an excellent team," head coach Sasho Cirovski said. "We had a couple of good performances but it's very frustrating to come home and not put the kind of performance at home that we've been putting on the road. Sometimes it's almost explainable. I'm not sure... I know we're doing all the right things, saying the right things, preparing, but at some point we just have to go out and perform better at home. We have incredible fans, incredible support, and it pains me to not have them leave here with a smile on their face. But we move on."
The Spartans took the lead in the 15th minute when Patrick Nielsen found the back of the net with a header off a long free kick. The Terrapins responded well, finding a couple chances in the opening 45 minutes but ultimately not finding a goal of their own.
Maryland continued to pepper the Spartan defense in the opening stages of the second half, posting four shots in the half's first 20 minutes. Michigan State keeper Jimmy Hague was strong throughout, ending his night with four saves.
After Eli Crognale was sent off following a second yellow card in the 78th minute, Michigan State put the match away with an 80th-minute tally.
Maryland's offensive attack was balanced on the evening, with Sebastian Elney, Amar Sejdic, Paul Bin and Crognale each finishing with two shots apiece. The Terrapins ended the night with nine shots.
The match also featured the collegiate debut of freshman Brayan Padilla. The FC Dallas Academy product saw nine minutes off the bench in his first college match.
Maryland will now battle local foe Georgetown in a Columbus Day matinee on Monday. Kickoff at Georgetown is slated for 3 p.m.
Maryland welcomed back it's 1968 team for the 50th anniversary of their national championship. The Terps, who shared that national championship with Michigan State, are one of three teams in Terps history to go unbeaten in the regular season.
"That was the bright spot of the whole night," Cirovski said. "It was wonderful to see so many members of the '68 team here. It is a fantastic group of people and for them to make it back from all part of the world means a lot to me. It means a lot to our program."
The team was honored prior to kick off as the starters from both teams encircled the '68 returners at midfield. Maryland's 2018 players and staff posed with for a photo with the 1968 team prior to introductions.
"It's great to have them here," senior Andrew Samuels said. "They were the first team to win a national championship here and it was great to meet them and talk to them for a little bit."
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