COLLEGE PARK, MD -- In a back-and-forth affair in front of over 2,000 fans, No. 9 Maryland (4-1-2) drew 3-3 with Penn State (3-2-2) in its Big Ten home opener, with both sides recording goals off penalty kicks. 

The Nittany Lions took a 2-1 lead into halftime, but the Terps came out with lots of energy and offensive pressure in the second half and Griffin Dillon scored a quick goal to tie the game. 

Malcolm Johnston knocked in his third penalty kick in as many tries this season to give the Terps the lead, but Penn State found a penalty kick goal of their own to end the game in a 3-3 draw. 

The Terps outshot the Nittany Lions 19-8 and earned three more corners than their opponents. 

Coach Sasho Cirovski's Take

"I really like our team. I like where we are, except we have to stop being so generous giving away goals to teams. We have to get better at finishing our chances. Scoring three goals at home should be a win. That's unacceptable for a program of our level."  

"Penn State played a little differently than they have in past years, and we had a tough time neutralizing Peter Mangione. We had some changes, and I thought we did a great job stopping him in the second half. We played with a much higher speed: technically, physically, and tactically. That urgency we played with in the second half is what we have to play from the first whistle."

Player's Perspective

"Coming out playing against a team like Penn State, obviously we know they have guys that can score, and we have guys that can score," Chris Rindov said. "But we just have to keep it up for the whole 90 minutes. I think the moments that we were up, that's exactly how we want to play as opposed to going through ups and downs. We want to keep riding that high throughout our games."

"We're playing at home, I don't know how many people came out here, it's incredible! But we don't use the energy and we get scored on three times at our home field. We have to work hard to change that," Alex Nitzl said.

The XI

Jamie Lowell (GK)
Alex Nitzl (LB), Chris Rindov (LCB), William Kulvik (RCB), Nick Richardson (RB)
Joshua Bolma (MF), Joe Suchecki (MF), Malcolm Johnston (MF)
German Giammattei (F), Hunter George (F), Griffin Dillon (F)


Breaking Down The Action

• After a string of throw-ins in the attacking end, Nick Richardson squeaked in the first goal of the game in the 17th minute. Hunter George and German Giamattei recorded assists on the play. 
• The Nittany Lions responded with two goals of their own, one apiece from Femi Awodesu and Peter Mangione. 
• Hunter George and Joshua Bolma both put up well-struck shots to round out the first half, but they were just saved by Penn State's goalkeeper Kris Shakes.
• The Terps started the second half strong with an early score from Dillon in the 51st minute. Luca Costabile put a tough shot on goal that was deflected out and Dillon was there to knock it through. 
• George and Bolma kept the pressure on the Nittany Lion defense, putting up multiple shots including one off a heads-up play by George to quickly restart after a penalty.
• Johnston put the Terps back on top in the 70th minute, capitalizing on his third penalty kick opportunity of the season after a hard foul brought Max Riley down in the box.
• The Nittany Lions responded with a penalty kick goal of their own after Jamie Lowell was flagged with a penalty. 
• Lowell made a couple of very impressive saves down the stretch to keep the game knotted at three. 

Up Next

• The Terps will wrap up their Big Ten homestand when they face Ohio State this Sunday at 1 pm at Ludwig Field.