Aug. 20, 2012
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The Penn State men's soccer team battled to a 2-2 draw with the ninth-ranked Maryland Terrapins at Ludwig Field in College Park, Md., Monday night in the team's final preseason exhibition. Kickoff was delayed 30 minutes after inclement weather made its way through the area.
Penn State opens the regular season against Stetson at 7 p.m. Saturday at Jeffrey Field before hosting Hartford and Duquesne Aug. 27 and Aug. 31, respectively.
The Lions roared to a 2-0 lead with goals from Julian Cardona (Lincoln, Neb.) and Mikey Minutillo (San Jose, Calif.) before the Terps struck with back-to-back goals at the 75th and 78th minutes.
Maryland earned the advantage in shots, 17-12, and corner kicks, 7-3.
Penn State struck early as Cardona gave the Lions a 1-0 advantage in the 20th minute. Cardona picked up the ball 40 yards out and carried toward the box, splitting two defenders before dropping the ball off to Daniel Burnham (Boise, Idaho) at the edge of the penalty area. Burnham fed a slow roll back toward Cardona, who reached the ball just a moment before Terrapin goalkeeper Jordan Tatum and placed a shot into the left corner of the goal net. Owen Griffith (Lewisburg, Pa.) and Minutillo also recorded shots on goal in the first 45 minutes.
The Nittany Lion back line played well in the first half, stopping multiple runs on the wings near the box. Emmanuel Martin (Cormontreuil, France) stopped all three of the Terrapins' shots on goal, as well. Maryland led the period in shots, 8-4, and corners, 5-1.
Minutillo stretched the lead to two goals after he buried John Gallagher's (Pine Bush, N.Y.) left-wing cross. The junior forward blasted the ball past Maryland's Keith Cardona from point-blank range about seven yards from the goal. Maryland pulled back to a one-goal deficit after Stertzer scored for the Terrapins following a cross that just missed Andrew Wolverton's (Snellville, Ga.) hands. The Terps brought the game level after freshman Schillo Tshuma guided a shot past Wolverton.
Penn State momentarily appeared to take the lead in the 87th minute as Minh Vu (Tuscon, Ariz.) headed a Gallagher free kick into the back of the net, but the Lions were called offside to nullify the attempt.
The Terrapins nearly earned the win in the closing moments, requiring Wolverton to stretch out to stop a shot before Tshuma nicked a shot off the post.