UNIVERSITY Park, Ohio – No. 16 Penn State rallied from a pair of goals down to defeat the No. 17 Maryland men's soccer team in overtime, 3-2, at Jeffrey Field Tuesday night.
The XI
Niklas Neumann (GK)
Matt Di Rosa (LB),
Johannes Bergmann (LCB),
Brett St. Martin (RCB),
Ben Di Rosa (RB)
Nick Richardson (CM),
David Kovacic (CM),
Eli Crognale (CAM)
Malcolm Johnston (LW),
Eric Matzelevich (CF),
Justin Gielen (RW)
View From The Box
- The Terps (9-5-2, 3-2-2 Big Ten) had a dream start to the contest, scoring twice in the first 12 minutes. Penn State would roar back, scoring once in the first half, once in the second half and then finally in the first overtime period.
- Maryland's first goal was a touch of class from senior captain Eli Crognale. After some combination play down the right flank, freshman Malcolm Johnston slid the ball back to the path of Crognale and the senior hit a one-time strike from 20 yards out that went over the keeper and into the far corner of the net. It was Crognale's second goal of the season.
- Just minutes later the Terps were on the board again. Crognale hit a pass that found Justin Gielen unmarked eight yards out and the sophomore calmly finished for his second goal in as many matches. Gielen has three tallies for the season.
- Penn State pulled a goal back before the break in the 33rd minute on a Brandon Hackenberg header. The Nittany Lions had the better of the play late in the first half before scoring the goal.
- The second half was an intense back-and-forth contest, with Penn State leveling the score on a Kyle May strike in the 56th minute. The Terps had chances fall to Eric Matzelevich and Eli Crognale, put could not convert.
- Freshman goalkeeper Niklas Neumann was solid throughout the match, including a point blank save in the second half. Neumann finished the match with a career high seven saves.
- Penn State found its winner in the 100th minute. After the ball pinged around in the box after a cross in, Christian Sload slotted home from close range to finish the match.
From The Boss
"I'm heartbroken for our guys because we started the game brightly and then competed hard all the way through. We knew Penn State would be a challenge and in the end they just made one more play than we did. We want to take this bitter feeling to heart and not feel it again." –
Sasho Cirovski
Next Up
The Terps finish off the regular season Sunday afternoon against Michigan at Ludwig Field. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m., and fans can watch the action live on ESPNU.