COLLEGE PARK, Md. – Aided by sophomore midfielder Caden Grabfelder’s set-piece score in the 62nd minute, the Penn State men’s soccer team battled to a 1-1 draw against the No. 12 Maryland Terrapins from Ludwig Field Tuesday night. The Nittany Lion netted his third goal of the 2024 campaign to extend Penn State’s unbeaten streak to three consecutive matches.
With the draw in hand, Penn State moved to 4-5-1 overall with a 1-2-1 mark against Big Ten Conference competitors this season. Maryland moved to 5-1-4 overall this season and 3-0-1 against B1G foes in 2024. In the all-time series, the Terrapins maintain a narrow 9-6-3 record against Penn State, but the Nittany Lions remain unbeaten through the last seven meetings, winning four and tying three in a span dating to the 2018 regular season.
FIRST HALF
Neither team managed a shot through the opening moments of the match, but the home squad managed to get the action rolling in the attacking third in the sixth minute, followed by the first shot on goal of the night in the eighth which was safely corralled by graduate goalkeeper Andrew Cooke. The Nittany Lions forced the first corner kick opportunity of the contest in the 14th minute, and Grabfelder notched his first of four shot attempts in the 15th, sailing off target to keep the match knotted at nil.
Maryland managed to even the corner kick battle with their first opportunity in the 22nd minute of action, and both squads battled for offensive opportunities as the match played on. With less than five minutes remaining in the first half, the Terrapins built a dangerous scoring opportunity with a high-arching ball to the left wing. A well-timed run put a Maryland attacker in position to score from the left side of the box, but a brilliant save from Cooke kept things level heading into the halftime intermission.
SECOND HALF
Out of the break, the Terrapins were able to secure the first two corner kick opportunities of the final 45, warranting a shot off target and blocked shot, respectively. Graduate midfielder Michael Hewes forced a save from the Maryland keeper in the 52nd minute, but the Terps were ultimately able to find the back of the net first moments later. After switching fields on a service from around the midfield line, a Maryland attacker worked his way into the Nittany Lion penalty box and netted a right-footed shot for the first score of the contest in the 56th.
Penn State wasted no time in finding an answer, as the Blue & White seized on multiple opportunities to create dangerous chances in the Terrapin final third. A run from sophomore defender Mohamed Cisset to the edge of the Maryland 18 drew a foul from the Terrapins, setting up a critical set piece chance for the Nittany Lions. In the 62nd minute, Grabfelder stood over the ball and delivered a spectacular right-footed finish into the bottom left corner of the Terrapin net to tie things up. Aided by a number impressive defensive clearances and a last-minute save from Cooke, the Nittany Lions completed Tuesday night’s top-15 test with a draw against the host-Terrapins.
MATCH NOTES
- Penn State booked its first draw of the 2024 season, moving to 4-5-1 overall and 1-2-1 against B1G competitors.
- Following the 18th all-time meeting between Penn State and Maryland, the Nittany Lions extended their unbeaten streak against the Terrapins to seven consecutive matchups, winning four and drawing three contests dating to the 2018 season.
- Sophomore midfielder Caden Grabfelder scored the third goal of his second varsity season in Happy Valley, improving to seven points in 2024. Grabfelder has booked 16 points over his first two seasons with the Blue & White, booking three goals and three assists a season ago to go along with three goals and one helper this year.
- Grabfelder additionally finished tied for the match high in total shot attempts, making four efforts at the Terrapin frame to tie Maryland forward Colin Griffith in the category.
- Graduate goalkeeper Andrew Cooke returned in goal for the Nittany Lions, booking a quintet of saves against a single goal allowed en route to his first draw of the 2024 season.
- Junior forward Christian Dionne and redshirt junior midfielder Ben Liscum both made their return to the Penn State starting XI on Tuesday.
UP NEXT
Penn State men’s soccer returns home to Jeffrey Field this Friday, October 4, as the Nittany Lions play host to the UCLA Bruins in Big Ten Conference action. The match is slated to kick off at 8 p.m. (ET) on B1G+ and the B1G+ app.
FOLLOW THE NITTANY LIONS
Visit GoPSUSports.com for more information on Penn State men’s soccer. Fans can keep up to date with the Nittany Lion men’s soccer team on X and Instagram @PennStateMSOC, in addition to the team’s Facebook page at /PennStateMensSoccer.