Maryland men’s soccer draws Indiana, 0-0, in Big Ten opener

Maryland men’s soccer goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair was rarely tested in the early slate of nonconference matches this season, only making eight saves in the Terps’ first four victories. But the redshirt sophomore made six pivotal saves to keep Maryland’s Big Ten opener against Indiana scoreless Friday night at Ludwig Field.

Despite the defense keeping its opponents off the board for the third time this season, Maryland and Indiana played to a 0-0 draw, the third straight regular-season tie between the two sides.

While the possession was back-and-forth, the Hoosiers created the majority of scoring chances. Indiana nearly scored seven minutes in, but St. Clair scooped up forward Mason Toye’s left-footed shot from just outside the six-yard box.

Hoosier defender Rece Buckmaster was unmarked on the wing five minutes later, but none of his teammates were there to receive his low-lying pass into the box. St. Clair was forced off his line again in the 24th minute to make a sliding save to keep the score even. The Hoosiers had another chance at an open goal in the 35th minute, but Rashad Hyacenth’s shot missed the frame and went out for a goal kick.

The only two chances for the Terps in the first half came off the foot of forward Gordon Wild. He settled a sharp pass toward the box, but his shot sailed high over the goal. Maryland earned a dangerous free kick with just one minute left in the half, but Wild’s attempt was also too high.

Maryland didn’t have a shot on goal in its pair of attempts in the first half, but the Terps came out of the break quickly. They doubled their shot total in the first 11 minutes of the second half, but both shots from midfielders Amar Sejdic and Eryk Williamson were blocked in the box.

Indiana’s Timmy Mehl’s free kick in the 70th minute almost ended up in the back of the net, but St. Clair tipped the ball over the bar for a corner.

After the ensuing set piece, Eryk Williamson led a promising counter-attack, sprinting from box to box before the Hoosiers thwarted the scoring chance. The Terps were unable to get enough bodies upfield to get off a shot.

Chase Gasper’s cross preceded Maryland’s best chance in the second half, but Wild mistimed his header in front of the net. The teams traded opportunities in the last 10 minutes, but the Terps and Hoosiers ended regulation still scoreless.

While the No. 5 Terps beat UCLA in overtime last weekend, they were unable to replicate the result against the No. 4 Hoosiers.

Buckmaster volleyed a shot heading toward the upper left-hand corner of the net, but St. Clair made an incredible diving save to prevent Indiana’s golden goal. Maryland forward Eric Matzelevich laid off a ball for Wild as time dwindled down in the first overtime, but the shot rose above the net to send the game into a second overtime.

Matzelevich, a freshman, got off a shot in the box in the second overtime, but a Hoosier defender was able to block the strike. Indiana had an open shot with just over a minute left in the match, but it missed the mark.

The Terps (4-0-1) cap off their five-game home stand Tuesday against Rutgers at 8 p.m. ET.

Three things to know

1. Maryland struggled to generate scoring opportunities. Gordon Wild’s two shots in the first 45 minutes were the only shots of the half for the Terps. The junior forward got off shots in the 23rd and 44th minutes, but both sailed high. Wild’s second shot was a dangerous free kick opportunity right before the half, but the Terps couldn’t get on the board before the break. He almost knocked home a buzzer-beater at the end of the first overtime, but that, too, couldn’t find the frame. Maryland finished the night without a shot on goal.
2. Dayne St. Clair is the reason the Terps tied. The redshirt sophomore was only forced to make eight saves in the first four games, but made six against the Hoosiers. Indiana threatened in the first seven minutes, but St. Clair corralled the shot. Later in the first half, he came off his line to make a sliding save. The Hoosiers had three shots on goal in the first half and St. Clair was a big reason was the score was still even. He tipped a free kick over the bar in the second half and then made an incredible diving save in overtime to prevent a winning Indiana goal.
3. Indiana poses the biggest threat to another Maryland conference title. The Hoosiers went undefeated in Big Ten play last season, but lost in the tournament before having to meet up with Maryland in the championship. The Terps and Hoosiers drew in the regular season in both 2015 and 2016, so these two teams are typically well-matched. The Hoosiers’ defense is clearly one of the best in the country, not conceding a single shot on goal to the Terps. And while Indiana also didn’t score, it’ll be hard to expect a clean sheet against the Hoosiers more than once.