EVANSTON, Ill. – Senior Eli Crognale scored a penalty kick goal in the minute as the No. 23 Maryland men's soccer team defeated Northwestern, 1-0, to advance in the Big Ten Tournament at Martin Stadium Sunday afternoon.

The XI
Niklas Neumann (GK)
Matt Di Rosa (LB), Johannes Bergmann (LCB), Brett St. Martin (RCB), Ben Di Rosa (RB)
David Kovacic (CM), Nick Richardson (CM)
Eli Crognale (CAM)
Malcolm Johnston (LW), Eric Matzelevich (CF), Justin Gielen (RW)
View From The Box

• For the second consecutive year, the Terrapins (10-6-3) went on the road and won a Big Ten Quarterfinal avenging an earlier loss this season to the Wildcats. The Terps dominated the second half and did not allow a clear cut chance to Northwestern throughout the match.
• Crognale scored his spot kick in the 71^st minute. Freshman Nick Richardson drew the penalty when he was brought down hard in the box. Crognale beat the keeper to the right side for his third goal in as many matches. The Gahanna, Ohio native has at least a goal or an assist in his last
• Prior to Maryland's goal, the road side's best chance on goal came from David Kovacic. After a corner kick, the ball popped out to the top of the box to Crognale, who slid it to Kovacic. The freshman's long range effort banged off the cross bar and went over the top of the goal.
• The Wildcats best passage of play came in the first 20 minutes, as the home side was able to generate a number of corner kicks. The Terps defended well during that initial surge and subsequently shutdown Northwestern for the remainder of the match.
• The Terps got a great shift in the midfield from freshman Jacob Chakroun, who was pressed into action after an illness forced junior right back Ben Di Rosa off the pitch early on. Chakroun entered to play Nick Richardson's defensive midfield spot as the Terps' Big Ten All-Freshman team selection had to play right back for Di Rosa.
• Richardson did not miss a beat with Maryland's back line as Matt Di Rosa, Johannes Bergmann and Brett St. Martin notched their 10^th clean sheet of the season. That clean sheet was help by five saves from Niklas Neumann in goal. The German was largely untroubled by shots except early in the second half, when he denied a close range header that was Northwestern's best chance.

From The Boss
"We had a mission and mission accomplished. I thought we came in here and played a very technical astute game. Overall, coming here and having five freshmen in the lineup for the majority of the game on the road against a good Big Ten team is a great testament to how much we've grown. Now we are coming home. We are excited to come home to a semifinal against Indiana. It should be another classic." – Sasho Cirovski

From the Boys
"I feel like its my responsibility to be that guy that steps up and takes the PK in big situations like this one. It's important to have guys on the team like me and Johannes that are confident to step up and nail them. I have the confidence and I know my teammates trust me to step up and finish it." – Eli Crognale

Next Up
The Terps advance to the Big Ten semifinals at Ludwig Field next Friday. The Terps will face off with Indiana, their opponent in last season's Big Ten semifinal.