No. 3 Maryland routs Michigan 5-2 in Big Ten Quarterfinals

COLLEGE PARK, Md. (Via University of Maryland) – The No. 3 seed Maryland men’s soccer team erupted for five goals – including three from freshmen – in a 5-2 victory over sixth-seeded Michigan Sunday in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Tournament.

Rookies Sebastian Elney, Eryk Williamson and Amar Sejdic all notched goals for Maryland (9-5-4), which advanced to play No. 2 seed Indiana next Friday in the semifinals. Alex Crognale and Chris Odoi-Atsem also scored for the Terps.

Elney got the scoring going with his first tally since late September with a spectacular header to beat a leaping Evan Louro in the 24th minute. Odoi-Atsem found Elney – who leads Maryland with seven goals in 2015 – with a cross from the near sideline for the assist.

Williamson notched his third goal in two games with a header of his own at 46:27. Endoh served a similar ball to the reigning Big Ten Co-Offensive Player of the Week and the freshman finished to the far post for a 2-0 lead.

After Michigan cut the lead in half with a penalty kick goal in the 65th minute, the Terps answered quickly with a Sejdic score at 80:05. Endoh picked up his second assist of the match, but it was Sejdic would did the majority of the work, with a shifty turn and shoot from the top of the box for a 3-1 lead.

Crognale put up the Terps’ fourth goal of the match 1:45 later with a give-and-go play with freshman DJ Reeves from about eight yards. It was the junior defender’s career-high third goal of the season.

Michigan (8-6-4) notched their second goal of the contest in the 88th minute. Cody Niedermeier made a great save on the initial header from Colin McAtee, but the Wolverine follow-up beat the redshirt junior goalkeeper for a 4-2 score.

Odoi-Atsem capped a wild second half with a flick from five yards in the 89th minute for a 5-2 final.

“This was a great win for our team and a great response from our game on Wednesday,” head coach Sasho Cirovski said. “We learned a lot from when we played Michigan earlier this year and I think we showed that we have become a hardened and better team. Our response to both times they scored was perfect.

“To advance feels good, but what even feels better is the way we are playing right now. We are playing at a high level, we have momentum and we can’t wait until Friday.”

Maryland – which has scored eight goals in the last two games after notching 23 in 16 games prior – will hit the road for a semifinal battle with rival Indiana on Friday afternoon.