The Terps now sit 2-0-2 in Big Ten play.
No. 18 Maryland men’s soccer has proven it can win games in a variety of ways this season. As part of their eight-game unbeaten streak, the Terps have come out victorious in low-scoring affairs and throttled some quality opposition.
While the Terps have found a formula to success this season, they didn’t have a path to victory Friday night on the road at UCLA. Despite generating 12 shots across the 90 minutes, Maryland only produced two shots on frame.
On a night where neither team could create any threatening chances, the clock struck zeroes with no goals to show for. Maryland and UCLA produced a 0-0 stalemate to further the Terps’ grip on second place in the Big Ten.
Maryland’s defense held strong, despite waves of pressure in the waning moments. Laurin Mack stabbed away chaotic chances in the box to tally his fourth clean sheet.
Maryland traditionally dominates the possession battle, sneaking passes through the opposition’s compact backline. But on the road this season, the Terps have gotten off to slow starts and have not been as crisp on the ball. That trend continued on Friday.
UCLA controlled the possession for lengthy spells in the opening half, and even when the Terps won the ball back, they typically sent the ensuing pass wide of the intended target. The Terps struggled to sustain any consistent pressure.
Despite Maryland’s attack fluctuating at points this season, the backline has remained unbreakable in nervy moments. The Terps hold the best scoring defense in the conference, conceding seven goals in nine games. Maryland limited UCLA to a few unthreatening chances through the early goings.
The Bruins fired off one shot in the first half and eight total, but none really proved dangerous to Mack until the final 10 minutes. The sophomore goalkeeper has been a steady and calming presence in net, making timely saves this season. He wasn’t required to make any heroic stops against UCLA, but Mack came up clutch to earn Maryland a point.
Instead, the Terps created the majority of the quality chances.
In the 13th minute, Stephane Njike scooped up a bouncing ball and controlled it, before playing Sadam Masereka through on goal. The winger sailed his toe-poke effort wide of the net, squandering Maryland’s best chance of the first half.
The Terps totalled six first-half shots, many of which were created from their speedy forwards. When Maryland’s ball movement has faltered this season, it has relied on Masereka and Njike to create chances on the flank.
The duo delivered dangerous crosses time and time again, but UCLA’s aerial defense stood tall. The Terps also generated quality scoring opportunities off set pieces, having taken five in the opening 45 minutes. Nothing came from those corners, though.
The two sides entered the locker room with seven combined shots, and neither team was really happy with their first half performance.
It only got messier in the second half.
Chippy fouls and repeated delays halted any team’s potential momentum, likely resulting in the scoreless draw. Maryland and UCLA combined for 21 fouls and a trio of reckless challenges that resulted in yellow cards.
Three things to know
1. Drought continues. Maryland entered Friday’s contest against UCLA without a rivalry win in eight years. The Terps had played just three games away from College Park in the series and came away with only one win. They couldn’t manufacture any real chances to break the deadlock.
2. Maryland remains unbeaten. Just 17 Division I teams have gone through nonconference play and the early parts of conference play without a loss. Maryland is one of those teams. While the Terps have been tested early in the Big Ten, they’ve escaped three road games with a win and two draws.
3. Chaotic Big Ten soccer. Despite producing two wins in its four Big Ten matches, Maryland has never really found its footing on the road. Slow starts coupled with the extensive physical nature of conference play has resulted in a pair of underwhelming draws.
Category: General Sports
