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University of Maryland Athletics

MSOC Win Over Wisconsin
3
Winner Maryland UMD (4-0-1, 1-0-0)
1
Wisconsin WIS (2-3-0, 0-1-0)
Winner
Maryland UMD
(4-0-1, 1-0-0)
3
Final
1
Wisconsin WIS
(2-3-0, 0-1-0)
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Maryland UMD 1 2 3
Wisconsin WIS 0 1 1

Game Recap: Men's Soccer |

Terps Open Conference Play With 3-1 Win Over Wisconsin

A pair of goals in the second half sealed Maryland's fourth win of the season.

MADISON, WI - Stephane Njike's second-half goal was the difference on Friday night as the Terps (4-0-1, 1-0 Big Ten) opened Big Ten play with a 3-1 win on the road over Wisconsin (2-3, 0-1 Big Ten). 

Leon Koehl scored his first goal in the 23rd minute on a penalty kick. Wisconsin's goalkeeper dove to his right, but Koehl buried it in the back of the net to put the Terps up 1-0. Koehl led all of college soccer in penalty shot goals in 2024 with seven. Maryland was awarded a penalty kick of its own in the 57th minute and Matthew Zachemski scored his second goal of the season to knot the match up at 1-1.

The Terps regained the lead on Njike's second goal of the season in the 69th minute. He blasted a right-footed rocket past the Badgers' defense and celebrated with a backflip as he flipped the score back in favor of the Terps and put them in line for their fourth win of the season.  Maryland got an insurance goal from Rocket Ritarita in the 76th minute as he buried his second goal of his freshman season. Maryland pushed its unbeaten streak in conference openers to five seasons.  How it Happened:
  • Luke van Heukelum recorded the match's first shot in the first minute. 
  • Maryland got its first corner-kick opportunity in the 11th minute.
  • Wisconsin's first shot came in the 22nd minute.
  • Koehl scored in the 23rd minute on a penalty shot. 
  • Maryland took a 1-0 lead into the half.
  • Wisconsin scored on a penalty kick in the 57th minute.
  • The Terps and Badgers traded yellow cards in the 62nd and 63rd minutes. 
  • Njike put Maryland up 2-1 with a goal in the 69th minute. 
  • Ritarita scored his second-career goal in the 76th minute. 
Cirovski's Soundoffs:
  • "Nice to win on the road in a tough place to get a result. I'm extremely proud of the way the team responded in the second half after Wisconsin equalized. It showed a lot of character and a lot of quality. I'm just extremely pleased with the effort and the results."
  • "Rocket is an extremely talented player who's making a difference every time he steps on the field. Tonight, we really needed him and he's just picked up the pace and the physicality of college soccer in a good way. I thought he really helped our team tonight." 
  • "It's nice to come out of here with a win. The last three or four trips down here have not been the result we've wanted and I challenged our team to change that narrative and I think they took it to heart, came here and put together a performance that got a great result."
Numbers to Know:
  • 1: Koehl's goal was Maryland's first on a penalty shot in 2025.
  • 5: Maryland pushed its unbeaten streak in Big Ten openers to five matches dating back to 2021.
  • 6: Njike's goal moved him to third on the team in total points with six.
  • 8: Ritarita's goal gave him the team lead in total points with eight. 
  • 10: The Terps earned their 10th all-time win over the Badgers. They're now 10-4-2 against Wisconsin and 4-2-1 on the road. 
Up Next:
  • The Terps return to College Park for a Friday night showdown with Pitt on Sept. 19. The match will start at 7 PM and air on BTN.
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