Terps Secure High-Scoring Victory Over Villanova

Tuesday, October 10

College Park, MD

7 PM

Maryland

3-6-2, 0-4-1

Villanova

1-5-4, 1-2-1

Team	1	2	Final F
Villanova	3	1	4
Maryland	3	3	6

Stefan Copetti celebrates a goal vs. Villanova

10/10/2023 8:45:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score Photo Gallery

COLLEGE PARK, MD — The Terps faced off against Villanova in a midweek barnburner at Ludwig Field, as Maryland prevailed over the Wildcats in an offensive slugfest in a 6-4 contest Tuesday night in College Park.

In Maryland's highest-scoring match of 2023, the Terps peppered the Wildcats with a season-high 15 shots on goal, which counts as the program's most in over seven years. The Terps registered 29 shots for the match, their most since accumulating 31 against St. John's on 8/30/15.

Maryland previously scored six goals last season against Virginia. Prior to that, they had not scored six in a match since 2012 (vs. California).

Maryland and Villanova combined for six goals in the first half alone, as the two squads went into the halftime break level at 3-3. The Terps gained the early edge off a goal from Kimani Stewart-Baynes, and the Wildcats matched Maryland score for score through the first half.

Stefan Copetti knocked home a rebound and Bjarne Thiesen headed in a corner kick for his first Maryland goal to give the Terps advantages in the opening half, but Villanova erased the lead in short order both times.

The Terps built a two-goal lead with early second-half tallies from Copetti and Luke van Heukelum, and Stewart-Baynes wrapped up the match in the 89th minute as Maryland registered its most goals of the 2023 season.

Van Heukelum's three assists tied a school record with the last Maryland player to notch three being Chase Gasper in 2018. Copetti notched his first-ever two-goal match at Maryland. Stewart-Baynes added an assist to go along with his two goals.

The XI
Jamie Lowell (GK)
Luca Costabile (LB), Bjarne Thiesen (LCB), William Kulvik (RCB), Kento Abe (RB)
Kenny Quist-Therson (MF), Leon Koehl (MF), Matias De Jesus (MF)
Kimani Stewart-Baynes (F), Luke van Heukelum (F), Max Riley (F)

Breaking Down The Action

Just eight minutes into the contest, Maryland struck first off a Villanova error in the Terps' attacking third, with Kimani Stewart-Baynes firing the opening salvo from a Luke Van Heukelum feed.
In the 16th minute, Villanova drew level with Vincent Petrera corralling a rebound close to the net for a goal.
Stefan Copetti gave Maryland its second lead of the half, capitalizing on an open net after Max Riley's chip shot was denied in the 27th minute.
Less than three minutes later, Branden Johns took a feed inside the box and equaled the score line at 2-2.
Bjarne Thiesen powered home a header off a corner kick from Leon Koehl to give Maryland a 3-2 edge in the 34th minute.
The Wildcats responded two minutes later, as Gray Ricca's shot found the top-left corner of the net to make it 3-3 in the 36th minute.
A perfect picture feed from Van Heukelum caught the Villanova keeper flat footed, allowing Copetti to score the brace in the 47th minute, putting the Terps up 4-3.
The Terps nearly added an insurance goal from Stewart-Baynes, but his weak foot shot sailed wide right of the post in the 57th minute.
Van Heukelum got in on the scoring fun, blasting home a header of his own to give the Terps some breathing room in the 59th minute.
The Wildcats got a goal back in the 74th minute with Johns making a long run punctuated by a well-placed shot off the post to cut Maryland's lead to 5-4.
Mikah Seger, who replaced the injured Jamie Lowell in the first half, made a crucial save on a point-blank shot in the 78th minute to preserve the Maryland lead.
Stewart-Baynes closed the door on a late counter attack, scoring his second goal of the match while putting the Terps up 6-4 in the 89th minute.

Sasho Says

"Crazy Tuesday night, what can you say? Our attack looked fantastic. We pressed well, made some great chances...I'm sure this was one of those games that was fun to watch." - Sasho Cirovski

From the Players

"Finally the plays are starting to click...big improvement from the last game. All of our connections through passes, we were able to find each other and put the ball in the back of the net." - Luke Van Heukelum

Maryland Pride

The Terps celebrated its annual Pride night with pre-match giveaways.
Former Terp men's soccer star, MLS veteran and television and film producer Robbie Rogers was recognized in a pregame ceremony.

Up Next

The Terps travel to face Michigan State this Sunday, with kickoff set for 1 p.m., on B1G+. Maryland will host a marquee matchup in its next match at Ludwig, welcoming 2022 NCAA runner-up Indiana at 7 p.m., on Friday, Oct. 20. The match will be televised on Big Ten Network.