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  • No. 7 Maryland Pulls Out The Win Late, Avoiding A Draw With Rutgers In Big Ten Play

No. 7 Maryland Pulls Out The Win Late, Avoiding A Draw With Rutgers In Big Ten Play

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Soccer

Tied in the waning minutes, Tuesday's match between No. 7 Maryland and Rutgers seemed destined for a draw before Farouk Cisse put the Terps ahead in the 83rd minute, lifting Maryland to a 2-1 Big Ten win. The victory bumped the Terps to 7-2-1 (2-2-1 Big Ten) in 2026.

Both teams scored early in the first half as the defenses settled in. Rodrigo Neri netted his team-high sixth goal of the season in the fourth minute to open the scoring before Rutgers responded in the 19th minute.

Goalkeeper Laurin Mack made six huge saves to keep Rutgers (5-5-1, 3-2 Big Ten) at bay before Cisse broke through with his first goal of the season. The Terps held on for their second Big Ten win of the season, despite being out-shot 15-9. Maryland is back in action at Ludwig Field on Friday night against No. 8 Michigan State.

How it Happened:
1st Half:

  • Neri's goal (6) in the fourth minute opened the scoring with assists from Henry Bernstein (7) and Franklin Affanyi (2).
  • Mack made a pair of early saves to deny Rutgers.
  • Mack recorded his third save in the 12th minute.
  • Rutgers' Amer Lukovic tied the game with a goal in the 19th minute.
  • Rocket Ritarita put a shot on target in the 21st minute.
  • Luka Juricic forced a save in the 27th minute.
  • Dominic Ayella put a shot on goal in the 33rd minute.
  • The match was tied 1-1 at halftime.

2nd Half:

  • Mack made another save in the 51st minute.
  • Mack came up with a big save in the 61st minute to keep the match tied.
  • The Terps fought off a Rutgers corner in the 71st minute.
  • Cisse's goal (1) broke the tie in the 83rd minute. 
  • Mack made another massive save in the 88th minute.
  • Maryland held on for the 2-1 win.


Numbers to Know:

  • 6: Neri's six goals lead the team.
  • 7: Maryland is 7-3 all-time on the road against the Scarlet Knights.
  • 7: Bernstein's seven assists lead the team.
  • 14: Maryland improved its all-time record against Rutgers to 14-4-2.
  • 20: Tuesday marked the 20th all-time meeting between the Terps and Scarlet Knights. 
  • 29: Mack earned the 29th win of his career.


Up Next:

  • Maryland returns home to face No. 19 Michigan State on Oct. 9. The match is set for 7:30 PM and will air on B1G+.