COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The Wisconsin men's soccer team persevered tonight and tied No. 7 Maryland in a thriller on the East Coast.
Straight from the Pitch – Head Coach Neil Jones
"Great team performance tonight from the entire group. Maryland is a top-quality side and pose so many different problems. I was proud with our resolve and mentality especially in the final stages. We created enough chances to earn a point on the road, and now we turn our attention to Indiana back in Madison on Tuesday night."
How it happened
The Badgers simply have no quit in them. The Wisconsin men's soccer team went into seventh-ranked Maryland's house, notably during Terrapin Head Coach Sasho Cirovski's birthday celebration, and came away with a much-deserved point.
The Badgers succeeded on set pieces, with a goal on a corner kick, and closed out the game to grab the 2-2 tie against the Big Ten-leading Terrapins.
It all started from a corner by Aron Saevarsson in the 12th minute. The senior played a phenomenal back post cross to an unmarked
Drew Brown. Brown hit the ball into the back of the net in one clean stroke. This was Brown's first career Wisconsin goal, and he could not have picked a better game to get his first.
Coming out of the half, the Terrapins hit back in the 48th minute to make the score 1-1. However, in the 56th minute
Jack Finnegan posted up in the box with the ball at his feet and a Maryland defender on his back. He laid it off to Aron Saevarsson, who struck it past the keeper and gave the Badgers their second goal. Even though the Terrapins scored again in the 61st minute and then threw everything they had at the Badgers for the final 30 minutes, the boys dug deep and maintained the result.
You cannot talk about this game without mentioning Badger keeper
Carter Abbott. This result against a top Maryland side could not have been possible without Abbott between the posts. The junior stood out, pulling off multiple jaw-dropping saves. Abbott faced 11 shots on target throughout the game and managed to keep the Badgers 1-0 up with seven saves at the half.
Notes
- Junior Ethan Chung played 26 minutes against Maryland, more than doubling the minutes he played coming into this game
- Eight of Wisconsin's starters played 80+ minutes
- Aron Saevarsson contributed to both goals and finished with one goal and an assist
Next up
The Badgers return home to McClimon Soccer Complex to play host to No. 20 Indiana next Tuesday, Oct. 18 at 7 p.m. The games airs on BTN.
