WINSTON-SALEM, NC – Maryland men's soccer was defeated by No. 8 seed Wake Forest, 2-1, in the Second Round of the NCAA tournament at Spry Stadium on Sunday. Maryland finished the season at 9-6-5 overall.
Wake Forest's Cooper Flax scored the go-ahead and lone goal of the second half in the 62nd minute. The score was the eventual game-winner as Maryland could not net the equalizer to send the game to overtime.
Wake Forest scored the game's opening goal in the 10th minute. However, Max Rogers tied the game four minutes before the half. Rogers received a set-up pass from Luca Costabile and notched his fourth goal of the season.
Goalkeeper Laurin Mack made three saves and finished his freshman campaign with 52 saves.
Wake Forest (11-4-7) advanced to the Third Round, where it will play its ACC rival, No. 9 Clemson, for the third time this season.
Cirovski's Take
"I was very proud of the way we played on Thursday and today. You can't ask much more than that. We spent time and thanked all of our seniors because they're great representatives of this program. Whether it's true seniors in Dalton and William, redshirt senior Alex, or some of the transfer one year guys they all put in an incredible effort. They helped us get back into the NCAA tournament, got us into the top 10-20 program and showed that we are a contender."
The XI
Breaking Down The Action
- Laurin Mack made a big save on a low-right shot to the net in the 10th minute.
- Wake Forest responded a minute later with a goal to the same side for a 1-0 lead.
- The Terps' first shot on goal came in the 15th minute by Albi Ndrenika with a deflected shot saved by the Deacons' goalkeeper.
- Max Rogers tied the game up in the 41st minute after scoring an assisted goal to the high left side of the net.
- Wake Forest went on the attack in the 55th minute, resulting in a shot that was sailed wide off the net.
- The Deacons scored the go-ahead goal in the 62nd minute to take a 2-1 lead.
- In the 74th, Rogers had an excellent opportunity, kicking a shot that sailed just high and left.
Numbers To Know
- 2: This is the second time in the last five years that Maryland and Wake Forest met in the NCAA Tournament
- 4: Max Rogers scored his fourth goal of the season.
- 5: Luca Costabile recorded his fifth assist of 2024, ranking second on the team.
- 23: Maryland has been in the NCAA Tournament in 23 of the last 24 years.
- 40: this was the 40th meeting between Maryland and Wake Forest.
- 41: This was Maryland's 41st NCAA Tournament appearance in program history.