WASHINGTON, DC – No. 11 Maryland took advantage of a Virginia red card as they came back against their old ACC foe to win the 'Battle of the DMV' at Audi Field, 2-1. The first twenty minutes were used as a feeling out period as neither team registered a single shot. The play was very physical though as both teams challenged each other hard with several fouls being doled out, including six by Virginia. The first chance of the game came from the foot of Malcolm Johnston as he fired a shot from the top of the box that required a diving save from the Cavaliers goalie. However it was Virginia that found the back of the net first as Niklas Neumann couldn't make the difficult save in the 26th minute. 

The Terps continued to apply pressure to the Cavaliers back line which culminated in a shot by Caden Stafford ringing off the crossbar. The first half ended with a Virginia forward being given a second yellow card and being ejected from the game. Maryland entered the second half down 1-0 but was playing with a man advantage with the Cavaliers now down a man. The Terps took advantage as they began to live on the Virginia side of the field looking for the equalizer. Maryland's consistent pressure finally paid off as Hunter George was taken down inside the box and was awarded a penalty shot. Ben Bender stepped up in the 61st minute and put the shot softly towards the right post as the Virginia goalie dove to the opposite side. 

Now tied, Maryland continued to apply pressure with players like Justin Gielen and Hunter George consistently trying to get balls behind the defense. The Terps kept moving the ball from side to side as they tried to keep the opposing ten players spread out, hoping to make them more susceptible to openings. In what seemed like an inevitability based on the flow of the game, Maryland finally broke through again as in the 78th minute Brayan Padilla found the ball rolling towards his left foot and he knew what to do with it. His shot from distance screamed towards the goal and past the helpless Virginia goalie to give the Terps a 2-1 lead. Maryland finished the game by continuing to suffocate the Cavaliers and not allowing a single chance for an equalizer.



Padilla Power

• Brayan Padilla's masterful goal in the 78th minute gave the Terps the lead for good.
• Padilla became the 8th different goal scorer for Maryland in just four games.
• The goal was the second in the senior's career and first since 2019.  

Everybody Do The Bender

• After Hunter George was taken down inside the box, head coach Sasho Cirovski was without the services of his top penalty takers in Joe Suchecki and Brayan Padilla. 
• Maryland native Ben Bender was tasked with taking the shot and he delivered as he easily beat the goaltender for his team-high second goal of the year. 

Stout Defense

• Maryland's defense was once again a bright spot as the team only allowed one shot goal in the entire game. 
• Playing with the man advantage allowed the team to play more aggressively and that led to the Cavaliers having no threats towards goalie Niklas Neumann. 

Posted Up

• Freshman forward Caden Stafford tied for the team lead in shots with three but two of them were frustratingly close. 
• A strike in the 44th minute hit the crossbar flush and flew high into the sky before being cleared away.
• Another shot early in the second half seemed to have been saved by the goalie but referees determined that it actually hit the left post. 

Not Against Nick

• Defender Nick Richardson made several key challenges that took down Virginia attackers and sprung the Terps for a chance down the field.
• Richardson's play forced the Cavaliers to stop playing balls down the left side, avoiding him when possible.

Up Next

• The Terps will find themselves in Washington, D.C. again next weekend as they'll face the No. 2 Georgetown Hoyas. 
• Maryland and Georgetown have always played each other close as the all-time series is tied at 4-4-2 with the Hoyas winning two of the last three.