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If Friday night’s contest between the Michigan men’s soccer team and No. 2 Maryland was played on paper, the Terrapins would be celebrating all weekend long. However, fortunately for the Wolverines, the game was played on grass.
With only one conference win under its belt, Michigan (7-3-5 overall, 2-3-4 Big Ten) was presented with a tall mountain to climb: hosting the unbeaten Big Ten leaders Maryland (7-3-5, 2-3-4). But after taking advantage of early momentum garnered by a saved penalty from sophomore goalkeeper Isaiah Goldson, graduate midfielder Bryce Blevins led the Wolverines in handing Maryland its first conference defeat in a 2-0 victory.
“We grinded it out and found a way,” Michigan coach Chaka Daley said. “We didn’t play magnificently well, but I thought we fought really well. We competed and fought for everything. So in the end, it was a good team performance and a good team battle.”
The Wolverines’ organization and discipline made the start of the first half chaotic for the Terrapins, who squandered possession a number of times. Maryland didn’t offer a threat in the final third until a through ball launched Terrapin forward Sadam Masereka into a counter attack in the fifth minute, isolating junior defender Nolan Miller. In a panic, Miller tried to win the ball with a sliding challenge, but clipped Masereka’s knee for an early penalty call.
Up stepped Maryland forward Colin Griffith, who attempted to bait Goldson with a stuttered run up. But Goldson didn’t flinch, diving to his right and parrying the ball to Terrapin midfielder Aldi Ndrenika, who sent the rebound high and wide. Goldson’s teammates smothered him in celebration as soon as the danger was averted, as the Michigan keeper’s intuition and heroics kept the game scoreless for the time being.
“Shoutout (Wolverines’ assistant coach) Jhohan Obando, (substitute goalkeepers) Ethan Wood, Hayden Evans and Alen Bean, I appreciate you guys.” Goldson said. “They definitely helped me steer the way of where the penalty was going. The whole goalkeeper unit did our homework on each player’s penalties.”
Not even four minutes later, Michigan found itself on the attack. The home crowd hardly finished celebrating the save from Goldson when sophomore defender Matthew Fisher sent a cross-field ball to Blevins, who beat his defender to the byline with a pair of stepovers. His left-footed cross met the head of sophomore defender Patrick O’Toole in unfamiliar territory, and the net rippled for his first career goal to open the scoring.
“We’ve been emphasizing getting runners into the box,” Blevins said. “Patty made a great run, I was just lucky enough he was there. It was a really good finish as well.”
The Wolverines weren’t content with a one-goal advantage. Hungry for more, Michigan continued to put pressure on the Maryland backline, which conceded an average of fewer than a goal per game heading into the night. Senior forward Jacob Bucknor utilized his pace and skill to generate several scoring opportunities, and graduate forward Beto Soto’s vision and technique helped terrorize the Terrapin defense as well.
While unsuccessful in their search for a second goal before the halftime whistle, the Wolverines remained on the front foot for the rest of the half. They held the Terrapins, who averaged almost two goals per game this season, to two shots on goal in the first period; one being the missed penalty and the other a long-range effort straight into the gloves of Goldson.
Michigan began the second half as if the game was still scoreless, and Maryland felt that aggressive presence early on. Three minutes in, Blevins beat his defender once again and sent in a low, driven cross in search of Bucknor. On its way to Bucknor, the ball ricocheted upward into the outstretched arm of Terrapin defender Bjarne Thiesen, which was deemed a penalty by the video assistant referee.
Blevins, who scored the Wolverines’ only other penalty earlier this season against Penn State, seemed destined to be the one for the job. Maryland goalkeeper Laurin Mack pointed to his right hand side to taunt Blevins, suggesting he shoot the ball in that direction. Blevins took him up on his offer, sending the Terrapin goalkeeper the wrong way before coolly rolling the ball in the bottom left corner.
After doubling its lead, Michigan decided to sit back and get numbers behind the ball for insurance. Maryland repeatedly knocked on the door but Goldson refused to answer. The Wolverine goalkeeper was a brick wall, ending the night with a clean sheet and nine total saves.
Without a win against a top-five opponent since 2011, as well only earning one point from its previous three matches, Michigan stood face-to-face with a mountain in its battle with the undefeated Big Ten leaders. But mountains are there to be climbed.
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